Doha, Qatar - Asiacell, the first mobile operator in Iraq and part of the Qtel Group, announced today that its pioneer product for Iraqi women, Almas Line, has been selected as a finalist by the GSMA for its 2012 Global Mobile Awards.

Almas Line was shortlisted in the "Best Mobile Product or Service for Women in Emerging Markets" category. Asiacell, the only Middle Eastern firm nominated, will proudly represent Iraq alongside some of the most prestigious innovators of the technology industry such as Apple, Google or Facebook which are also nominated.

The Qtel Group announced its support for the GSMA mWomen Programme in February 2011, with a commitment to create mobile solutions that serve the specific needs of female customers across its footprint. Working with its operators across markets covering the Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia, Qtel Group is looking to implement new and innovative initiatives that will help to reduce the mobile gender gap and provide access to women for this potentially life-enhancing tool.

"Reflecting the intensity of competition and innovation across the mobile ecosystem, we saw a record 600 entries and an exceptionally high quality field of contenders vying for this year's Global Mobile Awards", said Michael O'Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. "It is a significant achievement to have made the shortlist, and our warmest congratulations go to all the nominees announced today. We look forward to the unveiling of the winners at the Mobile World Congress next month".

By selecting Almas Line as a finalist, the GSMA has recognized the groundbreaking and innovative approach displayed by Asiacell in bridging the mobile phone gender gap. Almas Line was introduced in 2011 and has since been adopted by more than 540,000 Iraqi women. Its features have been specifically tailored for Iraqi women: customized off-peak times, discounted tariffs, women-oriented VAS, etc. all of which account for its popularity among Iraqi women.

This exceptional recognition from the GSMA is a reward for the contribution Asiacell played over the past decade in constantly bringing innovations to the Iraqi people, and as such becoming a catalyst of the spectacular growth the country is experiencing.

"This award is an important recognition of the innovation and imagination that Asiacell is delivering to its female customers. We thank the GSMA for this nomination, and we look forward to continuing our work to bridge the mobile phone gender gap and drive the growth of Iraq's digital sector," said Faruk Mustafa Rasool, Asiacell's Managing Director. "Supporting the different components of Iraqi society, and especially women, is part of our ethical consideration and we intend to intensify our efforts to generate more growth and to add value to humanitarian field through our products and services."

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