Explore Qatar

Blackberry in Qatar survival guide - Explore Qatar

24 02 2008 16:43pm EST

Well, the day finally came. Scared by imminent arrival of competition (read: Vodaphone) Q-Tel had been rolling out a bunch of new services and bundling old ones. So, finally, they came around to offer Blackberry as well. Hooray! (or not?)

(For few of you who’re not into gadgets, Blackberries are mobile phone-like devices that apart from working like any normal GSM phone also send and receive email instantly, pretty much like SMS messages, as they’re sent. BB’s are standard tool of any road warier for a while now)

So – how does Q-Tel’s BB offer stand? Unfortunately, just like anything else Q-Tel, poor and miserable. �

(I have to add the disclaimer here that I am talking only about “personal” service here. Q-Tel also has a “corporate” offer. I can’t speak about the level of service for that one… )

So – First of all, let’s see what is the deal: Q-Tel instructs you to get the devices (phones) from “Starlink”, authorized reseller. Starlink has 3 devices on offer, 8300 Curve, Pearl and another one, all in all reasonable choice. Actually, they are selling unlocked devices, so you can also bring your own unlocked BB from anywhere and get it to work with Q-TEL (more about this later).
You can convert any post-paid GSM line into BB account. It is a straight-forward procedure, and can be done over 111 line. To start, they’ll charge you 150QR, with further 125 QR / month for the service.

So far so good, right?

Well, now comes the funny part.

First of all, nobody in Q-Tel seams to know ANYTHING about BlackBerry, what it is, how it works, anything. Girls working on 111 line have two lines of text they’re obviously reading from some sheet of paper and that is absolutely ALL you can find out from them. No supervisors, no technicians, no managers. Nothing. Nobody. No. Information.

So, dear reader, to save you from what I’ve been thru, let me provide some information for you:

-�� Although they say that 125 QR/month plan allows for unlimited email/internet access, it really doesn’t. Your BlackBerry DOESN’T have internet / data access, and you can’t use any 3rd party that needs it – from WorldMate, Idea Matrix, to Facebook. Nobody in Qtel knows if they have any Data plans. Nobody I managed to reach over 111 knows that such things even exist. All they will do is read over and over those two lines of text – how to read email and how to “search Internets”

-�� Some weird rudimentary Internet access does exist, but only through “MOSAIC” button which shows up in your BB once Q-Tel is activated. Even then, it takes 10 minutes for it’s own start page to load, and most websites are not accessible.

-�� Q-Tel drops BB signal on average once every two days. You can tell by letters “GPRS” turning to small “gprs”. Small letters means no BB. Only cure is to take the battery out of your device and put it back in.

Yes, you CAN use unlocked BlackBerries, and this is how (don’t even bother calling Q-Tel):

1 - Call 111 to activate BB service for your phone. Use post paid GSM chip, and install it in your BlackBerry
2 -� When you see letters GPRS in Caps, BB service is operational (takes them approx. One day)

3 – Go to -> options -> advanced options -> host routing tables – then click on the Menu button of BlackBerry and click on “Register now”

4 – Go to option – Advance Option – enterprise activation, and put your user name and password, and press “Register”

Once you’re registered, you can go to www.qtel.blackberry.com and do all sorts of settings for your email including filters and signature files ( Girl from Q-Tel’s 111 categorically claimed that you can’t.. but believe me, you can)

So – is it worth it? Well, if you’re out of the office much, site or travel, I’d say yes. BB is very, very usefull and well integrated with your existing email, whichever you’re using.

And if you want to actually use Internet, I’d recommend ordering unlocked BB device with WiFI (you can buy unlocked 8320 from several websites in USA, that is what I did), and then activating it here. That way you can at least go browsing when you’re in range of WiFI somewhere...

CHE GUEVARA in Doha: ignorance, lack of cultural sensitivity or both? - Explore Qatar

02 10 2007 01:54am EST

Ghost of Che Guevara is alive and well in Doha, Qatar.

Almost every day in Doha, one can see stickers with the face of famous “revolutionary” plastered on car windows. Fashion? Ignorance? Lack of cultural sensitivity? I guess the answer is all of the above...

How on Earth did this character became an idol of Doha youth? Who imports and sells these stickers? Do they have any idea who this moron was and what does he represent???

Fashion?

Give me a break.

A leader of a Communist bandit gang, best friend of Castro, person who would enter the village and immediately shoot all people of religion for being “contra-revolution” ??? Granted, he didn't kill many Moslems, but, believe me, he would've had he had a chance! He did attempt to lounch a "revolution" in Algeir if memory serves me well...

Nevertheless, his ideology did both prosecute and kill every person who believed in God, and in Eastern Europe, yes, that includes Moslems!

What do they think?? (youths plastering Che's face on their vehicle's windshields). Do they even bother reading history and finding out who this person was? Or does he, all bearded and filthy, looks to them like some Afghan Fighter? I almost feel like stopping one of them and asking!!!

I saw two cars today that made me write this (although, my hate for Che and everything Communist runs much deeper, of course).

First one, pickup truck, had a big “Allah” sticker on one side, and even bigger “Che Guevara” face on the other side of the back window. So – word of God, and a face of Communist god-denying preast-killing murderer on the same window!!!! It's kinda like having Palestinian flag and a face of Arial Sharon, right???

Other car I saw today was even worse, not Che, although it falls into the same category of ignorant stupidity – ragged car, driven by an Arab expatriate, had a HUGE sign, written all across windshield, “HITLER”. Must've stricken a note for killing all them Jews, right? I can only imagine the horror of German expatriates seeing that one!!!

So, pls. people, can you please do some thinking before you put a sticker on your car? Please? This. Hurts.

ENOUGH... of those crap boards on traffic lights! - Explore Qatar

19 09 2007 12:22pm EST

Yeah, yeah, I know. Road safety is a big issue nowadays in Qatar. And rightfully so – driving in Qatar is shockingly bad, especially for newcomers. From time to time you can read funny news on the Internet, like when some tourist websites describe driving in Qatar as “equal to practicing an extreme sport” or the recent interview of the former US ambassador to Qatar where he's saying how Qatar is safe and friendly and he felt safe here all the time, but the only thing that was dangerous while living in Doha were terrifying roundabouts when his wife had to drive by herself...

But, c'mon, these boards??? On almost every traffic light in Doha they've hanged incredibly ugly ridiculous boards with slogans like “Enough” “Brother, where are you” “Father, where are you” etc. Artwork looks as if it is done by a retarded 5-year old who had half day to learn Photoshop.

Boards contributed tremendously to uglyfying Doha, just now in times when it is becoming known and respected worldwide! This makes Qatar look like a third world country – like one of those emails circulating with stupid road signs in Syria or Bangladesh!

And, NO, they will not contribute to road safety either – only thing they CAN do is to make even more accidents as you have to squint to figure out what is meant to be represented on those ugly artworks, or you burst laughing when you see “Enough” sign written in “Rocky Horror Show” font!

ENOUGH! Remove that crap now!

And, if they really really want to improve the road safety, one word – IMPLEMENTATION. Put more police on the roads, put more cameras everywhere and be tough and strict with the implementation of existing laws. No 12-year olds racing in the Land Cruisers, which is, IMHO, the greatest cause of accidents in Doha! Impede daddy's cars! Fine them thousands of ryials! And you'll see.

And a title of most ridiculous advertising campaign in the Middle East goes to.... - Explore Qatar

12 09 2007 13:13pm EST

Burger King!

Living here in the Middle East one gets used to a fair share of stupid, silly or even worse advertising campaigns. Yes, we all know, the industry is still new, lots of amateurish companies, etc, so you're kinda used to it, and just learn to ignore endless dumbness.

But this one is waaay and beyond and deserves a special mention.

First – Burger King started something called “Chicken Fries” that are, ehm, pieces of chicken shaped like French (for our American friends, “Freedom”) Fries. TV commercial that was endlessly aired featured two (poorly done) 3D chicken, Father and a Son, with son hanging out with French Fries and father asking him what he is doing. Young Chick answers that now he can also be Fries!

This one must be seen to be believed! It reminds you of that classic SNL animated sketch about a chicken “wow – they frying me, thank god I'm dead”, just, you know, these people are not joking...

Now – they are hanging posters (can be seen on roundabouts and in Burger Kings) that are done using complete Finding Nemo design, fonts and a layout, to ADVERTIZE HAMMOUR (FISH) BURGER !!!!!

You like a little fishy called Nemo?

Eat a fish burger.

As this campaign is developing, I can't wait to see a cute little Cow recommending you to eat his buttock because it's tender (Hitchiker's Guide anyone?)

About Airport WiFi and smoking - Explore Qatar

12 09 2007 12:55pm EST

Hi all... I didn't write for a while on my Blog... you know, vacations etc...

Well, first of all – few impressions from various airports and airlines:

During the summer, I visited Istanbul, Beirut and Abu Dhabi Airports.

Istanbul: If you're ever connecting trough Istanbul, having HSBC bank account is a MAJOR advantage – you're allowed to use “ORANGE” lounge which is wonderful, spaceus and clean. Wi-Fi available and fast. Hours pass buy quickly and easily. Highly recommended.

Beirut: For you smokers out there this place is a treat: probably the only Airport on the planet where you're allowed to light up while waiting for you luggage! Even Istanbul won't let you do that! Hooray!

Abu Dhabi: It's kinda like Doha 10 years ago. Unorganized, unprofessional mess. Apparently, Abu Dhabi is now waking up and wants to be a business hub... Ugh, it's gonna take a while. Even simple things like going to transfer desk require a fair amount of yelling, frustration, etc.

And one more thing: What's up with not having WiFi in Airport lounges? Both Beirut and Abu Dhabi make you buy a card to access it (and in Abu Dhabi – well nobody knows where to get the card, how much is it and how to use it ???????)

C'mon people, it's 2007, wake up. Having WiFi in the Business Lounge is a necessity, NOT a luxury! Ask Doha, Dubai (or any other airport in civilized world).