MSN Launches its Maghreb Portal

Online news, entertainment, games, and local news will be offered to users in one of the world's most dynamic markets.

Rabat, April 22, 2008 – Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corporation, and Khaled Bichara, member of the board of Orascom Telecom Holding, today officially launched the new MSN Maghreb portal at a press conference in Skhirat. This new portal, created as a joint venture between Microsoft and LINKdotNET (operator of MSN Arabia and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Orascom), will offer the best in global and local news and entertainment content and provide access to the most famous and comprehensive online service providers. MSN Maghreb services will be offered in French to users in Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.
The MSN Maghreb audience will have instant access to up-to-the-minute international and regional news on entertainment, sports, consumer goods, etc. Later, MSN Maghreb will allow visitors to access already very popular Windows Live services such as Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Hotmail, and Windows Live Spaces.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corporation, stated: "The Maghreb is a very promising market for us thanks to its population, one of the youngest in the world, for whom online services are becoming a central element of daily life, whether it's for entertainment, staying in touch with friends and family, getting information, or following their favorite sport. By integrating MSN and Windows Live services, MSN Maghreb will provide smooth access to exciting content and services, while also offering a large and high-quality target for local advertisers," Steve Ballmer also stated.

The Maghreb, a mature market for online services

Naguib Sawiris, CEO of Orascom Telecom, added: "The rapid growth of the Internet in the Maghreb region has allowed the emergence of a very sophisticated new market characterized by the rise of new interactive and creative online services. This market is ripe for the arrival of the MSN Maghreb portal, which should establish itself today in the daily personal, professional, and social lives of young consumers in the region."
MSN Maghreb is operated by LINKdotNET, the leading regional provider of Internet solutions. The joint venture synergizes LINKdotNET's expertise and Microsoft's international experience. The partnership between Microsoft and LINKdotNET has already been successful with the launch of MSN Arabia, which boasts 2 million page views per day.
"Following the success of MSN Arabia, the leading portal in the Middle East, MSN Maghreb has strong potential within the Maghreb online advertising market, and by leveraging the global power of MSN, we have a fantastic opportunity for success by offering a popular service that truly meets the needs of the region," concluded Karim Beshara, CEO of LINKdotNET.

Posted April 29, 2008

Press Release of April 22, 2008