Vodafone Qatar 'in Talks MoI' to Start Metrash Services

Doha, November 13 (QNA) - Qatar's second telecommunications services provider Vodafone Qatar is in talks with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to provide Metrash electronic services to its mobile phone subscribers, a company executive said Tuesday. "Yes, we are in talks with the Ministry of Interior to provide Metrash services," a Vodafone Qatar executive told Qatar News Agency (QNA) today. "We hope to announce something shortly," the executive added. Metrash is a free of charge electronic service provided by the Ministry of Interior to citizens and residents of Qatar. Registered users of this service receive text messages on their GSM mobile phones from various departments of the MoI like vehicle registration expiry alert, drivers license expiry alert, traffic rule violation alert, new number plate ready alert and resident permit expiry alert. Qatar Telecom (Qtel) provides Metrash services to its subscribers. Vodafone Qatar has reported an increase in its mobile customer base by 7% over the quarter to reach 936,300 customer as at September 30 this year. The previous figure announced at the end of the first quarter was 878,200 subscribers. Vodafone will report its second quarter financial results for the period ended September 30, 2012 following a Board Meeting at its head office in Qatar Science and Technology Park here tomorrow. The press conference will be hosted by Vodafone Qatar's CEO, Richard Daly. (QNA)