Apps
Western Union Launches Mobile App
Western Union has launched a new mobile app and have revamped their website at Westernunion.com. The announcements were made in association with its local agent Al Fardan Exchange. “Customers in the UAE can now connect to their families and loved ones around the world digitally with the choice to pay for transactions online or within the app via direct transfers from their bank accounts set up in the UAE,” said the company in a statement.
Currently, Western Union offers digital service via WU.com in over 60 countries, plus territories, with mobile apps in 35 countries; moreover, its entire network is a combination of retail Agent locations in more than 200 countries and territories, account payout in nearly 100 countries, and wallet payout in a dozen countries.
The Middle East is a vital and rising economic hub bringing people together from across Europe, Africa and Asia and lifting them toward prosperity. International migrants working and living across the region represent a large part of the population and collectively send billions of remittances back home. In the UAE, 88 percent of the population are international migrants, followed by Qatar at 75 percent, Kuwait 72 percent, Bahrain 51 percent, Oman 41 percent, Jordan 40 percent and Lebanon 34 percent, according to the World Bank1.
The UAE remits a sizeable volume of the total amount of remittances, which makes the country the third largest person-to-person remittance market in the world, according to the World Bank. “Our commitment to the Middle East is a step forward to a more prosperous and globally connected future. Our digital services support globally-integrated living without leaving anyone behind. We use cutting-edge technology to simplify money transfer. Our systems automatically handle complexities from compliance to volatile currency exchanges so users can transfer money 24/7 to nearly every country across the world,with the touch of a few buttons,” said Western Union President and CEO, Hikmet Ersek. “Our systems are also designed so that customers at any level of financial experience can use any channel they like, be it digital or cash, online or offline.”
“The ability to smoothly and fluidly transfer money internationally by the latest digital means elevates our relevance to our customers across the world. We have offered our services for more than two decades across the Middle East, including the UAE and we are pleased to be collaborating with Al Fardan Exchange,” said Western Union General Manager and RVP for Middle East and Africa, Alexandru Badulescu.
Al Fardan Exchange has offered walk-in Western Union Money Transfer Services since 2010 and now offers customers the choice to complete their transaction digitally online or commence transaction digitally and pay-in-person across 67 Agent locations. “The UAE launch is aligned with this vision of the country, one that is staying on the edge of innovation to make a better life for all its people. This is where UAE and Western Union grow together, and we are glad to be a part of this historic collaboration,” said Al Fardan Exchange LLC CEO, Osama Al Rahma.
Apps
Saudi Pro League Partners with TikTok
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) announced TikTok as its ‘Digital Partner’ for the 2024-25 season. In this official partnership, TikTok will introduce a dedicated SPL Exclusive Hub, a central space where fans can access content from the league’s clubs and partners. This hub offers an immersive experience, bringing fans closer to their favourite teams and players in innovative and interactive ways. This collaboration sets new standards for sports entertainment by leveraging TikTok’s creative community and dynamic platform to bring the SPL closer to its expanding fanbase.
Through this partnership, TikTok will elevate the excitement of Roshn Saudi League (RSL) matches like never before. SPL will offer exclusive content available only on TikTok, giving fans unique insights into the league, its clubs, and players. From behind-the-scenes footage to in-depth player interviews, the content will create an engaging and immersive experience for fans.
Additionally, the SPL will provide TikTok creators with exclusive opportunities to explore and showcase new facets of the league, such as access to training sessions, match-day experiences, and interactions with top players. These opportunities will not only enhance engagement but also drive creative storytelling that resonates with a global audience. With SPL’s innovative experiences and thrilling football content, TikTok football fans can look forward to a diverse range of content and engagement opportunities, all exclusively on TikTok. With more than of 44.2 million likes and a follower count of 2.5 million, the SPL’s presence on TikTok has created a centralized digital space for fans to engage with the league like never before.
Omar Mugharbel, CEO of the Saudi Pro League, said, “The partnership between the Saudi Pro League and TikTok is a groundbreaking development for our sector in the region and represents a strategic leap into the future of sports entertainment. This is more than a partnership, it’s a digital revolution. We are harnessing TikTok’s power to transcend traditional engagement and offer our fans a canvas for creative expression and a suite of experiences tailored to their passion for football. We’re creating a realm where each fan has a front-row seat to the spectacle of the Roshn Saudi League, powered by the boundless creativity that TikTok embodies. The SPL Exclusive Hub on TikTok provides an immersive and interactive digital home for our passionate football fans. We are shaping the future of fan engagement and setting a global benchmark right here in the Saudi Pro League.”
Kinda Ibrahim, TikTok’s GM for Operations in the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan and South Asia, said, “Saudi Arabia’s passion for football runs deep in its history. By partnering with the Saudi Pro League, we are tapping into this strong affection for the sport and aligning with the league’s strategic vision to become one of the top football leagues globally. Through modernising the fan experience with a dedicated space for league content, clubs, and partners, we aim to strengthen the community of sports enthusiasts by providing them with more ways to connect and engage with exclusive content online.”
Apps
Age of Empires Mobile to Release Around the World on October 17, 2024
Mobile gaming fans around the world can prepare for a brand-new take on a strategy classic as Age of Empires Mobile will officially launch on the Apple App Store and Google Play on October 17. Co-developed by TiMi Studio Group (Call of Duty: Mobile, Pokémon Unite) and World’s Edge, an Xbox Games Studio, Age of Empires Mobile is a fresh and innovative experience for the beloved series, bringing familiar elements from the iconic Age of Empires games with brand-new and mobile-specific gameplay to mobile players.
On the road to global launch, players will have the opportunity to participate in on-site events at the Xbox booth, and the stage event with fun engagement activities at the Level Infinite booth, during Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. Media and creators will be invited to preview the game in the business area. Players can pre-register now for the official launch on the App Store and Google Play, join the game’s official Discord or head to the game’s website for more information.
“We expect players to mystify, mislead and surprise their enemies through the realistic, immersive, medieval gameplay featured in Age of Empires Mobile,” said TiMi Studios team leader and studio general manager Brayden Fan. “We’ve already seen alliances form and alliances crumble through our multi-month playtesting. Through it all, players have shown strategic wit, savvy teamwork and a passion for an entirely new Age of Empires experience.”
Built from the ground up for mobile and social play, Age of Empires Mobile includes a variety of game features:
- Multiple single-player modes built on the Age of Empires lineage and featuring iconic elements from the original series
- Build your empire in a lively, realistic medieval world featuring stunning civilizations, imperial cities and historical figures
- Immersive battlefields offer one-of-a-kind original gameplay with large-scale castle sieges featuring realistic weapons taking on multi-dimensional defences in a fight with thousands of players worldwide
- Be strategic as you encounter realistic and interactive terrain and weather and manage multiple troops with real-time micro-control
Built to expand on the series’ lineage, Age of Empires Mobile offers players the opportunity to select from some of the world’s most legendary historical figures to lead their armies. Players choose from dozens of these leaders, such as Barbarossa, Darius the Great, Hammurabi, Joan of Arc and Leonidas I, each featuring unique individual talents and synergies with each other to unleash on your foes.
“Our goal at World’s Edge is to bring the magic of Age of Empires to as many different types of players around the world as possible. Partnering with TiMi Studio Group means we can combine their expertise in mobile gaming with the strength of our franchise and history – to bring a brand-new take on Age of Empires to even more gamers, in even more places,” said Michael Mann, Studio Head at World’s Edge.
Apps
WhatsApp to Intro Real-Time Voice Conversations with Meta AI
WhatsApp is set to revolutionize user interaction with the introduction of real-time voice conversations powered by Meta AI. This new feature, currently in development, will allow users to engage in natural, spoken dialogue with the AI chatbot.
Key Features:
- Personalized Experience: Users can select from various voice options for Meta AI, tailoring the interaction to their preference.
- User Control: The voice chat mode will be optional, ensuring users have complete control over their conversations.
- Privacy Focus: WhatsApp is implementing a privacy indicator to inform users when their microphone is active, safeguarding user data.
- Accessibility: Captions and transcripts will be available, enhancing accessibility and providing a visual record of conversations.
- Customizable Responses: Users can choose between brief or full responses from Meta AI, adapting the AI’s output to their needs.
This exciting development promises to make AI interactions more engaging, accessible, and personalized for WhatsApp users.