by Oman Observer

OHI Group launches new portal ( new window to information technology)

MUSCAT — Marking another milestone in the Internet history of Oman www.ohitariq.com one of the premier Internet portals in the Sultanate is now present in cyberspace with a different name, appearance and content as www.ohitech.com. As the name indicates the new portal launched yesterday will be a technology-focused site for attracting hi-tech-savvy Omani and expatriate net browsers. S Jayakumar, Operations Manager, OHI Information Technology group who is heading the new portal said that www.ohitech.com is a complete new window to technology.

"This brand new portal replaces its predecessor www.ohitariq.net along with exciting new content that offers surfers a better spectrum of information. The content is organised in a simple manner and the ports sports a new look," said Jayakumar. "This is a single window into technology and this portal brings an enormous focus to various services that can be offered through the web. Our aim is to provide quality content and offer surfers the information they want."

This portal is the first of its kind and offers services ranging from e-mail to advertising and all the way up to providing a platform for the creation of digital communities in Oman and beyond, he claims. Being a Microsoft and VTA certified training centre in Oman, the group expects to attract IT students and others to visit the site regularly. In its new shape, the portal has come a long way since tariqonline.net was acquired by the OHI group from Tariq al Barwani: "It is an evolution from what we have started.

As www.ohitariq.com was purely an information technology portal, we wanted to make it a generic site by covering other topics. The portal features sections on career, education, banking, finance and entertainment. Each of these carefully managed sections offer surfers valuable informations that is of interest to them," he said. With this development, the existence of tariq.net, one of the premier Internet portals in Oman, developed by Oman's cyber wiz kid Tariq comes to an end.

"We had bought the entire site from tariqonline. We retained him only as a manager. The idea to start ohitech was already there," he said.The Internet scenario in Oman and the region has been witnessing drastic changes with a number of high profile portals and dotcom companies are undergoing restructuring and cost cutting to remain in business. However, Jayakumar said that ohitech is not yet another site in Oman. "This is not our bread and butter," he said.

"Globally Internet portal alone is not a business. We have other related businesses like web hosting and web designing. We are also planning to start SMS (short message services) related services and WAP aided services through special arrangements with business partners. For introducing SMS services in Oman, the OHI group has tied up with ducont.com, a dotcom company specialised in wireless related Internet projects — it is based in the Dubai Internet City.

"The portal enjoys about 4500 hits per day of quality surfers and hence could be a very effective marketing medium. Currently, there are about 40,000 Internet users in Oman and an annual growth rate of 15 to 20 per cent surfers is expected," said Mangala Iyer, Head of Internet Division OHI Group. "There are already advertisements from key organisations such as Oman International Bank, Oman Trading Establishment, Genetco and Capital Stores.

The portal has diverse content ranging from a currency converter to a stock index to e-greetings. Hence irrespective of age, profession or interest there is a specific content suitable for you available on the site, which makes it a favourite spot for surfers," claimed Mangala. It may be recalled that a number of high profile Internet portals like the cityshow.com and omanforum.com have changed hands recently.