Tens of thousands of internet users will need to change their e-mail addresses under plans by Yahoo Maktoob to launch an Arabic-language e-mail service.
The web service has been gradually moving its services to be in line with those of the US web giant Yahoo, which purchased the Arabic portal Maktoob for US$164 million (Dh602.37m) in 2009.
The current @maktoob.com email address will be gradually phased out, with "tens of thousands" of users asked to use an @yahoo.com address ender instead.
New Arabic-language e-mail and messenger products are due to be launched this year, said Ahmed Nassef, the vice president and managing director of Yahoo Middle East.
"Messenger and mail will be launched in 2011 in Arabic," said Mr Nassef. "We're looking to launch some top properties in the next couple of months."
Yahoo Maktoob's Mail and Messenger product, which includes services such as instant messaging and video calls, are currently available in English but not Arabic.
"You don't have an Arabic interface to these products. However, we have millions of users that use these products," said Mr Nassef.
"Over time we'll transfer the existing subscribers to Yahoo mail... It will be a very clear process to all our users," he added.
The Maktoob.com email addresses will not be cancelled immediately.
"Eventually, the previous product will have to cease. The time frame for that has not been put out yet," said Andy Abbar, Yahoo Maktoob's head of product marketing and management for the Middle East.
"It will be a transitional approach - it will not be an on/off switch. We will make sure that no one gets stranded," he added.
Mr Nassef also said Yahoo Maktoob would be investing in more sports content as it looks to boost its online audience in the Arab world.
Yahoo Sports, which was launched in 1997, is the top sports website in the US, and this week it launched ThePostGame, a daily online magazine that is to publish lengthy articles on sport.
Mr Nassef said Yahoo hoped to build its Arabic sports content before something similar to ThePostGame was launched in the Middle East.
"We're continuing to build our Arabic sports property for the Middle East … We'll be investing in the content we're getting and the editorial team that runs our sports properties," he said.
"I don't have a date yet [for the launch of ThePostGame in the Arab world], so it's not something on our road map today, but it's something we'll be looking at."
Yahoo Maktoob says it has 32 million users. The two Yahoo and Maktoob domains rank among the top 10 most-visited websites in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, two of the region's most populous markets, according to the web data company Alexa.com.
In terms of sports content, Yahoo Maktoob faces competition from dedicated Arab sites including the popular kooora.com, which ranks as the 13th most popular site in Saudi Arabia.
bflanagan@thenational.ae
The permutations for UAE going to the 2018 World Cup finals
To qualify automatically
UAE must beat Iraq.
Australia must lose in Japan and at home to Thailand, with their losing margins and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
To finish third and go into a play-off with the other third-placed AFC side for a chance to reach the inter-confederation play-off match
UAE must beat Iraq.
Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
Rating: 4/5
Produced by: Poetic License Motion Pictures; RSVP Movies
Director: Ritesh Batra
Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sanya Malhotra, Farrukh Jaffar, Deepak Chauhan, Vijay Raaz
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
RESULTS
5pm Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Munfared, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Sawt Assalam, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dergham Athbah, Pat Dobbs, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Rajee, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
7pm Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Kerless Del Roc, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Pharoah King, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8pm Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Sauternes Al Maury, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5