Comex-2010 to showcase cutting-edge technologies

By Hasan Kamoonpuri - The 20th edition of Comex, Oman’s largest IT, telecom and technology expo, is all set to begin from tomorrow at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. In the past two decades, Comex has emerged as a perfect platform for the introduction of cutting-edge and cost effective technologies and solutions to all IT enthusiasts in Oman. Comex helps exhibitors to meet customers from all sectors under one roof in Oman.

The five-day show (April 26-30) “is your perfect avenue to explore latest innovations and developments in IT, develop collaboration and partnerships with the government and businesses, top industry players, researchers, entrepreneurs and potential investors. “It is a gateway to the Sultanate’s information and communication technology (ICT) market”, said Sadiq Ahmed Khan, Director for Sales & Marketing, Oman International Trade & Exhibition (OITE), the event’s organiser, at a recent Observer-Comex roundtable.

“We expect to pull in 60,000 visitors during the exhibition, exceeding the figure of 55,000 visitors turnout of last year’s show”, said Atif Khan, Sr Manager, Trade Fairs, OITE. The Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA), publishers of Observer and its sister Arabic daily Oman, is media sponsor of Comex-2009.

The Comex Round table brought together more than a dozen participants including Maurice Gent, Media Adviser at Oman Establishment for Press, Publications and Advertising, Sadiq Ahmed Khan, Director for Sales & Marketing at OITE, Atif Khan, Sr. Manager, Trade Fairs, OITE, Nasr Khalid al Mawali, General Manager, Gulf IT, Ahmed Salim al Aiyabi, Technical Projects Manager, e-Solutions, Omania E-Commerce LLC, Amr Nagah, Sales Manager, Meta Galaxy, Mohamed Hassan Atef, Country Manager, ALKAN, Pankaj Arora, Sales Manager, Telecom at Jawad Sultan Technologies LLC, Richard Lopus, General Manager, Business Services, IMTAC, Vivendra De Sivla, Business Proposition Manager, Nawras, Prakash Mohapatra, Deputy General Manager, Networks & Telecom, Mannai Corporation, Bob Yue, Director, GM Office, Huawi and Fadi Yehia, Deputy General Manager, Mideast Data Systems, Oman (MDS).

The participants at the round table took turns to outline their objectives to participate in the 19th edition of Comex. IMTAC officials suggested that OITE would do well to provide free transport services for visitors at strategic points in Muscat and other governorates so that the visitor turnout is maximum. They also pointed out the lack of share taxi services at the venue for the visitors to return comfortably. The participants also stressed the need for online payment facilities at Comex.

In its 20th successive year, Comex has grown over the years to be one of the largest IT, Telecom & Consumer Electronics extravaganzas in the region; where most of the powerful and leading brands of the world converge to showcase state-of-the-art products and services, said Maurice Gent. Aimed at shaping the future of businesses and government, Comex allows the user community to have greater exposure to ICT product and services under one roof. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity for business-to-business alliances, leverage their mutual strengths and further market penetration.

Atif Khan said a unique feature of Comex-2010 is a conference to be held alongside the expo. The conference aims to gather both corporate and government CIOs, CTO, IT Managers, IT professionals and other stakeholders in the ICT sector to discuss different perspectives and to gain understanding of the real-world ICT issues, challenges and emerging opportunities as well as to discuss practical ways on how latest technologies can benefit their organisations. The conference “Creating Synergy and Driving Development Through Collaboration and Application” promises to provide deep insights into the latest solutions and strategies designed for both government and business sectors.

Gulf IT, the first time participant in Comex, will showcase its Cloud-based applications such as Google Apps., Box.net, Zoho CRM among others in software as a service delivery model, said Nasr Khalid al Mawali. In addition to Cloud Computing, Gulf IT also provides services like Custom Web based Application Developments and a very strong integration with mobile technologies like BlackBerry and iPhone. Gulf IT provides Microsoft Sharepoint Services for its corporate clients, google enterprise solution portfolio from SaaS Applications to enterprise search appliance. Gulf IT is also taking a key initiative to provide e-Government Solutions from its partners in India.

Ahmed Salim al Siyabi said Omania E-Commerce LLC’s strong focus in Comex will be on providing electronic smart solutions to help people understand what information technology can provide for them. The use of new technology through the solutions that Omania E-Commerce offers such as “E-learning Solutions” and “E-procurement” are amazing. OEC’s goal is to change the routine traditional procurement and purchasing processes to a more efficient and advanced automated online processes, which in return will help in energising businesses within the Sultanate.

“OEC prides itself in promoting e-Commerce within businesses, government and citizens of Oman. As a leading e-solutions provider in Oman, we will actively participate in making Oman’s vision of an e-society a reality”, he adds. Amr Nagah said Meta Galaxy is the first national IT distributor in Oman and a regular exhibitor and sponsor of Comex. Nagah believes Comex is a good platform for ICT companies to interact with customers.

Alkan Oman, established in 2009, is a leading service provider and systems integrator. At Comex, Alkan will showcase services in the field of GSM/Wi-Max and Fiber Optics Network, Planning and Rollout, as being a prim turnkey contractor providing end-to-end services; managed networks operation; telecom equipment installation and commissioning, Systems Integration; operation and business support systems (OSS/BSS); and VSAT and Broadband Satellite Services, Software Solutions.

Pankaj Arora said Jawad Sultan Technologies (JST), a total infrastructure solution company with voice, data, security and office automation as its core business, will be presenting cost effective technologies and solutions at Comex-2010. A platinum sponsor in this year’s Comex, Jawad Sultan Technologies is into innovative technology solution development, with products ranging from telephony, DATA, wireless, security and office automation. JST deal with solution design, deployment, project management and maintenance of telecom and IT products.

With the Sultanate now heading towards the digital society, the competition amongst key players in the IT, telecom and technology sector has seen an exponential growth, and technology is now heading towards service based rather than towards products based. In recent times, JST has successfully implemented Single IPT Network stretching across the Sultanate. It has also actively participated in increasing efficiencies of SMEs. JST has SBUs comprising telecommunications, networking both conventional and wireless, data centre solutions, security systems, office automation and special projects, offering a one stop solution with Single Point Contact for its valued customers.

Industrial Management Technology and Contracting (IMTAC) LLC, a leading IT Solution and Service provider in Oman, will showcase solutions for IT optimisation, e-world security, green IT technology and mobility solutions in the at Comex-2010, said Richard Lopus. With domain expertise in banking, healthcare and government sectors and technology competence (data centres, networking, databases, applications) with world class support services, IMTAC is in a unique position to offer comprehensive IT solution and services proposition.

IMTAC’s portfolio at Comex will include the HP blade solution, cloud computing, data lead prevention and deep security solutions, smart print and management solutions and mobility solutions. “With multidirectional growth happening in Oman in all sectors we see a tremendous growth potential of ICT in the country”, he said. IMTAC has implemented a number of large and complex multidimensional projects across all sectors of the Sultanate’s economy, providing end-to-end services across all IT domains.

Nawras will be the full service provider at Comex-2010. Vivendra De Sivla said Comex is the perfect platform for companies to showcase latest technological developments in Oman. This year Nawras will showcase WiMAX capabilities, offering the next generation of telecom services as a part of its fixnet line services; broadband internet share; blackberry; mobile fax; and Nawras business solutions.

Prakash Mohapatra said Mannai Corporation will showcase a big range of solutions at the Comex, including MAX Suite (IP Phone Applications), Cisco Digital Media Signage and Cisco Video Surveillance integration. MAX is a suite of IP Phone Applications transforming unified communications by providing users with graphical interfaces displaying a rich set of features and capabilities. MAX suite delivers solutions and services that help in improving the business operations and efficiency.

MAX Suite developed by Mannai has a rich set of services such as prayer times, flight information, news, phone lock, cafeteria ordering, and weather. Mannai is more focussed in providing customer with a customised set of applications and service based on their requirements for automating its business processes and adds this into the existing feature set of the MAX Application. Mannai provides the users with digital signage solution with live video feeds from the video surveillance cameras. Mohapatra says Oman has made great strides in e-enabling the country. Implementation of technology has been tailored to the country’s requirements.

An intelligent broadband network is the foundation of the information society and “we are glad to see Oman following this path”. Mideast Data Systems (MDS) will showcase its services in IT consulting, implementation, and technology development for businesses, governments and technology companies. Emerging as a regional IT solutions innovator, its industry-focused approach coupled with strategic partnerships pave the way to create technology and implement it. Mideast Data Systems delivers large scale and complex CMM (Capability Maturity Model) compliant project implementations.

Bob Yue said Huawi, the main vendor for Omantel, will showcase its cutting-edge technologies and solutions. He said Huawi is now exploring opportunities in the field of enterprise market. Enterprise broadband solutions hold out immense business opportunities for companies like Huawi and this is in addition to fixed and mobile broadband solutions market in the Sultanate. Broadband is the future in the ICT growth path in Oman. Huawi and other companies are closely watching and eyeing the booming broadband market in Oman.