First Apple Premium Partner store in Croatia opens doors to customers in Zagreb

iSTYLE recently announced the opening of the first Apple Premium Partner (APP) store in Croatia, and the Adriatic region, located in the Arena Shopping Center in Zagreb. The store’s grand opening took place on March 18 and the retail site will provide customers with an all-new Apple shopping experience.

The APP concept offers customers an entirely new design, with a spacious well-lit interior, and all equipment coming directly from Apple’s suppliers. The store features Italian stone floors, designer rounded tables from the USA, and furniture from Germany marking the beginning of a new era for iSTYLE. An enhanced level of customer service and shopping experience – similar to Apple Stores around the world – will be provided by increased numbers of highly-trained sales staff.

“We are thrilled to introduce the first-ever Apple Premium Partner store concept to Croatia and the Adriatic region. In our efforts to show our commitment to the Croatian market, we have recently expanded by opening three new stores, bringing our total number of stores in the country to six” said Valeriu Ion, General Manager iSTYLE Romania, Bulgaria, and Adriatic Countries.

“This latest redesign allows us to offer new programs and personalized services to our valued customers, further solidifying our position in Croatia and the Adriatic region. The opening of our new Apple Premium Partner store was a tremendous effort by the iSTYLE and Apple teams, and we are immensely proud of our accomplishments. We extend our gratitude to our dedicated staff and partners who have worked tirelessly to bring this exciting new retail experience to our customers” said Valeriu Ion.

With Apple Premium Partner stores, Apple’s goal is for customers to get even closer to the brand’s iconic world and to receive higher quality service. In Apple Premium Partner stores, the display of Apple products and Apple accessories is even more important than before. The number of closed showcases is reduced to a minimum, so customers can easily try out the products displayed on open surfaces without the help of the staff.

In the new flagship store, iSTYLE will provide a continuous servicing offer, including iPhone screen replacement or battery replacement on the same day. Customers will also have access to a range of payment solutions, including interest-free deals, iSTYLE Comfort service packages, trade-in programs, and used equipment offsetting services. In addition, the store will be able to function without a physical cash register in the near future.

The Arena store in Zagreb is staffed with expert employees who have received exclusive Apple Premium Partner training and will offer regular free education and open workshops for the general public. The courses starting in the spring will offer topics such as MacOS work for beginners, tips and tricks for advanced Mac users, and a video editing course.

“Our goal is to make Apple products and services more accessible to customers in Croatia and the Adriatic region. We believe that the opening of the first Apple Premium Partner store is just the beginning, and we look forward to bringing this new retail experience to more customers in the future,” said Antonela Jularic, Retail Manager iSTYLE.

In parallel with outstanding service, iSTYLE places an even greater emphasis on serving entrepreneurs as well as small and medium-sized companies, which is why a staff member specialized in corporate users and experienced in financing corporate hardware also strengthens the team. Prior to the official customer opening, iSTYLE organized a VIP launch for B2B and SMB customers, introducing them to the new store.

In 2022, iSTYLE Croatia achieved greatly increased sales revenue with each line of business experiencing significant growth compared to FY21. Online sales had outstanding results. This impressive growth was largely due to increased consumer sales, made possible by the renewal and expansion of the store network. iSTYLE now has a presence in four cities across the country – Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, and Zadar – with a total of six stores. This makes 2022 the most successful year in over two decades of operation in Croatia. The headcount has also grown by almost 50% compared to FY21, with a team of 40 dedicated employees driving continued success for the brand.

About iSTYLE

With over 100 stores, iSTYLE, part of the Midis Group, has the largest network of Apple Premium retail stores, with 58 in Central and Eastern Europe and 16 in the Middle East. Another 33 stores are part of the Spanish sister company K- Tuin.

The iSTYLE brand first appeared in Central and Eastern Europe in 1999, and it has since expanded to nine other CEE countries.

In Croatia, the first branch opened in 2009, and the current iSTYLE Apple Premium Partner brand store is the fifth of its kind to open in the East-Central European region, following recent launches of Czech and Hungarian sites.

Apcom welcomes a new Apple Authorized Reseller in the Adriatic – Aztech

Apcom in the Adriatic recently announced a new Apple Authorized Reseller in the Adriatic, after signing an agreement with the leading retailer of consumer electronics in Kosovo, Aztech. Based in Pristina, the capital and largest city in the country, the company was set up in 2009 and currently operates nine sites across the region with more to come.

“With our joint commitment and dedication, we have been able to fully prepare and offer an excellent product experience to our customers and we can now confirm that we are an Authorized Reseller for the internationally renowned Apple brand. This new status is a testament to our reliability and ability to offer original and quality products to all customers” said Qëndrim Krelani, Marketing Manager, Aztech.

“We are happy to offer our customers in Kosovo a wide range of Apple products through our stores and our online platform 24/7. We are committed to providing the best care and customer service, focusing on the quality and reliability of all products. We have been concentrating on the detail and worked closely to ensure that all products are presented as best as possible. We are happy to have such a reliable and committed partner like Apcom, and we hope to continue this successful cooperation in the future.”

“Adding Aztech as Apple’s Authorized Reseller in Kosovo was long awaited by Apcom. I am very happy and glad that one of the biggest retailers in Kosovo has decided to become our newest Partner. Over the past few years, Aztech has developed a lot and climbed giant steps, transforming itself into the successful retailer they are today. However, their will and dedication to become even better by improving their product range and customer experience and pushing for the best price offers for their customers is clear every day” said Hristijan Panev, Regional Retail Account Executive for Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania, Apcom

More about Aztech

AZTECH is one of the leading retailers of consumer electronics in the Kosovo market with a large retail network. Currently, the company operates 12 point of sales sites in nine cities in Kosovo: Pristina, Prizren, Gjakova, Ferizaj, Gjilan, Suharekë, Podujevë, Fushë Kosova and Vushtrri.

More about Apcom in the Adriatic Region

Apcom in the Adriatic Region is an Apple Authorized Distributor in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

iSTYLE opens two Apple Premium Partner stores in central Prague and Moravia

iSTYLE recently opened two new Apple Premium Partner (APP) stores in the Czech Republic, adding to the first store of this kind in Chodov. First site to open is in the Palladium shopping center in the center of Prague, with the second store in Brno in Moravia.

The Prague retail site is the first APP in the center of the city. It was created in the premises of the existing Apple Premium Reseller store in OC Palladium, which underwent a month-long renovation.

“Our store in OC Palladium is a strategic location for us because it is one of Prague’s busiest shopping centers. I believe that with its new concept, which has so far proven to be very successful in Chodov at the Westfield Shopping Centre, iSTYLE will further expand its strong Czech customer base, which includes tourists and was around 1,400 visits per day before Christmas” said Managing Director for the Czech Republic, Vit Goluch.

A new store design awaits all visitors on 199 square meters of space on the first underground floor of OC Palladium, offering a large showroom with Apple products to try, premium accessories, and the highest level of customer service. The APP concept includes professionally trained staff and express Apple Authorized Service.

On the opening day in Prague, iSTYLE offered a range of extra discounts. In the queue on opening day all visitors could refresh themselves with coffee or snacks from the adjacent Starbucks café. The new store hosts training sessions and open workshops for the public and offers a B2B corner with specialists focused on the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Third APP opens in Brno

iSTYLE recently followed the Prague store launch with the opening of the third APP store in the country, in Brno’s Gallery Vaňkovka. The new store has opened in the space of the original iSTYLE retail site, already the second busiest of ten Czech branches after Prague’s Chodov.

Many unbeatable discounts awaited the first customers at the opening of the new store. The new store in Galeria Vaňkovka covers an area of 150 square meters and brings a completely new design and new standards and services of the highest level to customers from Brno and its surroundings.

“The customer response to our Apple Premium Partner stores has been very positive so far, which can be backed up by the numbers. Since its conversion to the new concept, the store in Chodov has recorded a year-on-year increase in turnover of almost 40%. The store’s footfall has even increased by more than 80%. We are very pleased to be the first to bring this concept to Brno, where our store has always been one of the most successful in the country and its elevation to a new level is therefore a logical step” says Vít Goluch, Managing Director of iSTYLE.

As in the Prague retail site, customers in Brno can look forward to an extensive Apple showroom with products to try out, professionally trained staff, express authorized service of Apple products and a B2B corner with specialists focused on the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Training sessions and open workshops for the public are also held right in the store.

MDS System Integration Group achieves Global Dell Titanium Black Status

MDS System Integration Group has achieved the coveted Titanium Black tier status with Dell Technologies. The achievement reflects the long-standing partnership between MDS SI and Dell Technologies and the Group’s continued commitment in providing customers with best-in-class solutions and supporting them in their Digital Transformation journey.

MDS SI Group President, Sami Abi Esber, had the pleasure of meeting with Michael Dell and other senior management at Dell Technologies during the ‘Access to the Future’ event held in Austin recently.

“We are thrilled to announce that MDS SI Group – part of the Midis Group – has been recognized as the only Dell Titanium Black partner in Middle East and Africa. We’re incredibly proud to have achieved the status of Dell Titanium Black partner, the highest level in the Dell Technologies Partner Program. This status recognizes our most strategic partners – those best equipped to navigate today’s data-centric, multi-cloud world and support their customers in their Digital Transformation journey.”

“This recognition is a testament to our team’s expertise, hard work, commitment and drive to deliver unparalleled services and the best possible solutions for our clients. Thank you to our amazing clients who have allowed us to excel in our partnership with Dell – and thank you also to Mohammed Amin and the regional team of Dell for the partnership and recognition” mentioned Sami.

According to Sami, the Dell leadership confirmed that “This status recognizes our most strategic partners – those best equipped to navigate today’s data-centric, multi-cloud world and support their customers in their Digital Transformation journey.”

News of the accolade from Dell Technologies follow other recent achievements by the Group. MDS SI is leading the way in the IT Services market across the GCC according to the recently released IDC Competitive Profiles and 2021 Analysis of IT services players. The Group leads the market in UAE and Oman, and is an increasingly successful contender in Qatar, and also in the KSA market, up from ninth in 2020 to eighth place in 2021.

MDSap and Fast Company Turkey host Finance Leaders gathering in Istanbul

MDSap Turkey and Fast Company Turkey recently co-organized a Finance Leaders Gathering in Istanbul, welcoming C-suite executives from all over the country to the Wyndham Hotel on March 17.

After an opening speech by M. Rauf Ates, Fast Company Turkey Founder, the assembled finance experts heard welcoming speeches by Nesrin Demirci, General Manager of MDSap, Turkey. Nesrin presented about the Midis Group, MDS SI and MDSap Turkey, and offered more information about the Group solutions for financial institutions such as Risk & Compliance, Data Analytics, Omnichannel Banking and Finance.

Juan Jarjour, MDSap Regional Director, then presented the solutions in detail. In his talk, he highlighted ‘the need to unify Enterprise Risk Management Platforms.’ Juan also emphasized the challenges faced by financial institutions in the implementation of Enterprise Risk Management solutions, and the need to establish a proper data management infrastructure to meet regulatory requirements and ensure reliable and seamless processing of risk measurement and reporting functions.

He also addressed the growing need to unify Risk Management platforms to enable financial institutions to meet both regulatory reporting and internal risk management needs.

Following the presentations from Fast Company and MDSap, the invited Finance Leaders from Leasing, Factoring and Investment companies also shared their digital agenda for 2023, and their investment and risk plans.

More about MDSap

MDSap, a gold partner of SAP and expert in SAP’s banking solutions, has over 25 years of in-depth experiences helping customers manage, integrate, analyze and mobilize business mission critical data across the enterprise. The company has an exceptional track record providing turnkey IT solutions across the Middle East, Turkey and Central Eastern Europe to over 400 enterprise customers and government entities. MDSap is part of the Midis Group and currently operates 10 offices across the Middle East, Turkey and Central Eastern Europe.

Find out more on the MDSap Turkey website

Apcom welcomes a new Apple Authorized Reseller in the Adriatic – BC Group Computers

Apcom in the Adriatic recently signed an agreement with BC Group Computers, a major operator in online only retail technology sales in Serbia, as a new Apple Authorized Reseller.

“Apcom is proud to announce cooperation with BC Group Computers as an Apple Authorized Reseller” said Dragana Lovre, Regional Retail Account Executive, Apcom. “BC Group is a regional market leader in online sales with a strong focus on customer satisfaction. We are looking forward to working with them and helping them make Apple products even more available in all parts of our country.”

BC Group Computers has 18 years of experience in online business and were among the first in Serbia to recognize the potential of e-commerce. According to the company website, from the earliest days of e-commerce they have been working to build the trust of customers through digital sales.

Online, BC Group receive 50,000 visits per day which leads to 13,000 orders per month and rising. There are 50,000 items available on the web platform with a wide range of offers in different categories. Customers give Google reviews of 4.9 for the company which suggests that BC Group customers are among the most satisfied in the online business.

“After almost 20 years of successful existence of BC Group in our market, I can say that we are mature and experienced enough to recognize good business opportunities and choose the companies and people with whom we will cooperate through great effort, hard work and above all with a huge dedication to each of our customers and clients” said Marko Šoškić, General Manager of BC Group Computers doo.

“We set all goals, including for Apple products, as realistic, concrete and measurable and we aim to achieve them. We want excellent results and we can achieve them, so we can’t wait to embark on the BC Group adventure as an Apple Authorized Reseller” added Marko Šoškić.

More about Apcom in the Adriatic

Apcom in the Adriatic is an Apple Authorized Distributor in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

MDS System Integration Group launches new corporate website

MDS System Integration Group, the #1 IT services provider in the region, has launched a new website at https://mdssigroup.com/. The new website was announced at the MDS SI kickoff event held recently. It is designed to be easy to navigate, with improved security features and is more user-friendly with a dynamic and interactive design.

Key features of the website include:

• Affiliate Directory (Solutions, Industries focus, Countries coverage, Partners etc.) covering important information of all the MDS SI Affiliates operating in 13 countries across 20 cities.
• Mobile responsiveness.
• Informative content showcasing our DX Framework, Solutions Portfolio and Customer Success Stories.
• Smart filtration process covering all the relevant details for affiliates by Industries, Solutions, Partners.
• Optimized for SEO that will be running throughout the year ensuring higher ranking on Search Engines like Google etc.

The site homepage features an easy to use ‘Access your Solution’ dropdown filter which seamlessly directs viewers to information about which Affiliates offer what kind of solutions across the 13 countries that MDS SI affiliates operates in.

The release of the new website follows other recent achievements by the Group. MDS SI is leading the way in the IT Services market across the GCC according to the recently released IDC Competitive Profiles and 2021 Analysis of IT Services players. The Group leads the market in UAE and Oman, and is an increasingly successful contender in Qatar, and also in the KSA market, up from ninth in 2020 to eighth place in 2021.

Greater Together: MDS System Integration Group welcomes senior management at 2023 Kickoff event

Senior leaders at MDS System Integration Group welcomed key stakeholders at their annual Kickoff event held in Dubai on March 3, 2023. With an inspiring theme – Greater Together – the day began with a keynote from MDS SI President, Sami Abi Esber.

Held this year at the Hilton Palm Jumeirah, more than150 of the Group’s top executives attended from all affiliates within the MDS SI Group. In his opening keynote, focused on growth, Sami Abi Esber talked about the pathway to 2025, an overview of current business and what the way forward looks like.

The day’s agenda was brought to life all through the day by interactive games led by the event’s MC, Robert Day of Turnaround. The first session taxed the brains and challenged the creativity of everyone present. Next in the formal program was guest speaker Ranjit Rajan, VP Research at IDC, who offered excellent insights into the ‘Tech Market Outlook & Ecosystem Strategies for Addressing Opportunities in 2023 and Beyond.’

Most sessions highlighted the achievements of 2022 and the way forward with a key focus being ‘The Path to 25 and the strategy to achieve the Mission and Vision of the MDS SI Group’.

One of the key highlights of the day was the Annual President’s Awards and the winners of these prestigious awards were as follows:

• Abdul Salam Knio: ICT-D Qatar (Winner – Innovation)
• Jawad Alam: ICT-D Qatar (Winner – Innovation)
• Cesar El Ferkh: MDS CPT (Winner (Cross Group Collaboration)
• Muhammad Faiez: MDS CPT (Winner – Cross Group Collaboration)
• Georges Sargi: QuanTech SAL (Winner – Cross Group Collaboration)
• Amir Abu Naj: SVDS (Winner – Cross Group Collaboration)
• Jacques Gemayel: MMR (Winner – Going Extra Mile)
• Anas Ajlouni: MAGNOOS (Winner – Operational Excellence)
• Sagar Petluri: MAGNOOS (Winner – Operational Excellence)
• Ravinder Kour: MAGNOOS (Winner – Operational Excellence)
• MDS UAE: Winner – Sub-holding of the Year

Greater Together – the whole MDS SI Group senior team at the 2023 Kickoff meeting. Photo credit – Robert Day, Turnaround.

MDS for Computer Systems promoted to Star Partner by NetApp

Riyadh-Saudi Arabia, February 23, 2023 – MDS for Computer Systems (MDS CS) today announces that it has been promoted to Star level Partner of NetApp, a global cloud-led, data-centric software company that empowers organizations to lead with data in the age of accelerated digital transformation.

“It is with great happiness and genuine excitement that we announce the promotion of our partnership with NetApp to Star level – what an inspiring achievement” said Khaled Halawa, General Manager, MDS-CS.

“We are incredibly proud of our team who devoted years of hard work and dedication to this partnership. NetApp team’s level of dedication and professionalism has impressed us tremendously. Please accept our deepest appreciation for your unflagging efforts. We have enjoyed doing business with you and we anticipate a lasting business relationship” said Khaled Halawa.

More about MDS for Computer Systems

MDS for Computer Systems is a well-known and highly reputable organization with an expert team of engineers and technicians and a large base of satisfied customers including a significant number of large turnkey projects.

MDS for Computer Systems brings in a highly professional approach to meet each of its customers’ unique business requirements. Its commitment in terms of financial investment and customer support is aimed at a long-term relationship with its customers.

Mindware has earned the Windows Server and SQL Server Migration to Microsoft Azure specialization

Dubai – March 1, 2023 – Mindware today announced it has earned the Windows Server and SQL Server Migration to Microsoft Azure Specialization, a validation of a solution partner’s deep knowledge, extensive experience and expertise in migrating Windows Server and SQL Server-based workloads to Azure.

This level distinguishes channel partners that have met the stringent criteria around customer success and staff skilling, as well as pass a third-party audit of their migration practices earning them this Azure specialization.

More and more companies seek to modernize their applications and take full advantage of the benefits that cloud computing can deliver. The end-of-support for Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2002 R2 (plus upcoming end-of-support for Windows Server 2012 R2 and SQL Server 2012 R2 in October 2023) will continue to increase the need to find partners with skills to assess, plan and migrate their existing workloads to the cloud.

“The achievement of this Microsoft Azure Specialization is a confirmation of our capabilities at Mindware to successfully plan and deliver complex cloud migration projects” said Silmi Khanfir, Director of Cloud and XaaS at Mindware. “Together with our partners and Microsoft we are working to help customers transform their businesses and we’re delivering impactful, human-centered solutions to the market every day.”

Andrew Smith, General Manager, Partner Program Management at Microsoft added, “The Windows Server and SQL Server Migration to Microsoft Azure Specialization highlights the partners who can be viewed as most capable when it comes to migrating Windows-based workloads over to Azure. Mindware clearly demonstrated that they have both the skills and the experience to offer clients a path to successful migration so that they can start enjoying the benefits of being in the cloud.”

More about Mindware

As one of the leading distributors of the finest IT products in the Middle East and Africa, Mindware’s extensive portfolio includes top-class global brands reaching out to over 4,000 partners. Mindware’s comprehensive offering includes a selection of infrastructure, networking, security, and storage leading brands. As part of its VAD methodology, Mindware also offers supplementary value-added services to its reselling partners including pre-sales consultancy, implementation services, local technical support, marketing enablement tools, and multiple channel-enabling programs. Headquartered in Dubai UAE since 1991, Mindware has been uncompromisingly serving its customers for more than three decades.

www.mindware.net | www.mindwarecloud.com | https://store.mindware.net

Mindware Academy launched to bridge technology skills gap in the Middle East

DUBAI, UAE, February 22, 2023: Mindware, a leading Value Added Distributor (VAD) in the Middle East and Africa, has announced the launch of Mindware Academy, an initiative designed to develop young talent and help combat the challenge of IT skills shortage in the Middle East.

Mindware teamed up with the American University of Sharjah (AUS) for a pilot program in December, where a few select students from the University successfully underwent a five week internship. The two institutions are now working towards signing a Memorandum of Agreement with the intention of growing the relationship and deepening the collaboration. As part of the agreement, the University will commit to providing the best potential candidates for the program on an on-going basis.

The pilot program covered the following topics and information:

• Introduction to Cloud, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Cloud vs On-premise
• Security overview, Data Protection, Endpoint Security and Identity & Access Management, Data center and Cloud Security, Security Operations and Incident Response
• Data center overview, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, Digital Workspace, Network Management, Server Virtualization fundamentals, Endpoint foundation
• Mindware service offerings and understanding processes from receiving the RFP, preparing the quotation, SoW, pricing and assigning engineers.

The internship not only helped the students enhance their technical knowledge but also helped significantly improve their communication and presentation skills, besides giving them clarity on which courses/ tracks to opt for in the next four years of their university education.

Mindware Academy will start with two programs a year in UAE, with six students attending each program. As the Academy grows from strength to strength, Mindware will look to ramp up the number of programs, as well as expand the concept from UAE to the wider Middle East region, involving more universities.

The initial phase will feature technical skills development, but in time the program will be expanded to include sales, marketing, e-commerce, marketplace and other disciplines. These new areas will be mapped to Mindware’s own requirements for talent, so that once interns finish the programs, top performing students could be presented with a job offer from Mindware.

Mindware Academy is the brainchild of Philippe Jarre, CEO of Mindware, who believes that in a dynamic, ever-evolving tech industry, the minds of tomorrow need to be equipped to take on all its challenges. He advocates that there is no better way than to invest and train students in real world scenarios with practical experience that gives them the tools they need to be able to make a positive impact in the industry.

“We are excited to launch Mindware Academy and provide opportunities for the next generation of talent to learn and grow with our company. We believe this program will be beneficial for both, the interns as well as our organization, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will have. There is a skills gap in the region and this program aims to bridge that gap by providing young talent with the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience” Philippe Jarre concludes.

More about Mindware

As one of the leading distributors of the finest IT products in the Middle East and Africa, Mindware’s extensive portfolio includes top-class global brands reaching out to over 4,000 partners. Mindware’s comprehensive offering includes a selection of infrastructure, networking, security, and storage leading brands. As part of its VAD methodology, Mindware also offers supplementary value-added services to its reselling partners including pre-sales consultancy, implementation services, local technical support, marketing enablement tools, and multiple channel-enabling programs. Headquartered in Dubai UAE since 1991, Mindware has been uncompromisingly serving its customers for more than three decades.

www.mindware.net | www.mindwarecloud.com | https://store.mindware.net

iSTYLE opens the first Apple Premium Reseller (APR) retail site in Casablanca, Morocco

iSTYLE, the leading chain of Apple retailers in Europe and the Middle East, has opened the first Apple Premium Reseller (APR) retail site in Casablanca in the fancy Al Massira boulevard.

The welcome event on February 7 was enjoyed by around 50 distinguished invited guests, including prominent media figures and key Moroccan social influencers, along with a talented illustrator doing portraits of guests on iPad.

“It’s the whole Apple experience, with Apple expertise, from a design template approved by Apple” said Edy Hamati, Business Development Manager for Lebanon and Morocco at iSTYLE, during the opening of the new store. “Our team of five salespeople are all trained by Apple to give the best advice to customers. Now we’re offering the full Apple experience to the Moroccan consumer. Grateful to be working with such an amazing team. The best is yet to come!” added Edy.

The Apple Premium Reseller concept builds upon the already excellent iSTYLE retail offerings to include enhanced service from expert sales and tech staff trained by Apple, the widest variety of Apple products in Casablanca, great after sales service, excellent payment facilities and much more.

‘iSTYLE Studio’ events led by influencers and Apple experts will be organized regularly to help new Apple users make the most of their iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and other Apple devices

The new APR store is at 13 Bld Al Massira, Casablanca, Morocco. www.istyle.ma

More about iSTYLE

iSTYLE, part of the Midis Group, is the largest Apple Premium Reseller network in Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Through its 70+ retail and online stores, iSTYLE offers the full range of Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV along with an impressive but carefully selected portfolio of accessories and software.

iSTYLE opens the first Apple Premium Partner store in Hungary

Budapest, February 2, 2023 – iSTYLE’s first Apple Premium Partner (APP) store has welcomed its first customers in the Árkád shopping center in Budapest. The second Apple Premium Partner brand store in the Central and Eastern European regions brings to the nation the shopping experience of the iconic Apple Store and represents a completely new level of customer service.

The APP iSTYLE store located on the ground floor of the Árkád shopping center in Budapest is the first Hungarian store to be included in Apple’s new retail program. Based on the new concept, the store has been renewed in a larger area than before and is waiting for Apple fans with many novelties. The floor area of the showroom has increased to 125 sqm where even more employees, technical service and advanced product support services are waiting for those interested in the clean, friendly environment, familiar from Apple.

“The opening of our new Apple Premium Partner store marks the beginning of a new era for us: in the renewed store, a design similar to that of Apple Retail Stores, a spacious well-lit interior awaits the brand’s customers, and our highly trained and increased number of sales staff ensures the outstanding customer experience and satisfaction” highlighted Csaba Gyarmati, Regional Director of iSTYLE.

The Apple Premium Partner program concept differs from the previous Apple Premium Reseller approach which provided Apple’s partners with a uniform design and operational framework. Building on that concept, with the new Apple Premium Partner stores, Apple’s goal is for customers to get even closer to the brand’s iconic technology landscape and to receive even higher quality service.

What new features does the iSTYLE store in Árkád bring?

• Renewed design in line with Apple style

The design of the store was created by a team of designers specialized in Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino. All equipment comes from Apple’s direct suppliers, the stone floor from Italy, the designer rounded tables from the USA and the furniture from Germany. Another special feature is that the store will be able to function without a physical cash register in the near future.

• Products available immediately

In Apple Premium Partner stores, the display of Apple products and Apple accessories is even more important than before. The number of closed showcases is reduced to a minimum, so customers can easily try out the products displayed on open surfaces without the help of the staff.

• Device servicing – within one day

In the flagship store, customers are welcomed with continuous servicing, so the staff can even undertake an iPhone screen replacement or battery replacement on the same day.

The range of payment solutions is also expanding, in addition to the Easy Upgrade payment services and the iSTYLE Comfort service packages, customers are also provided with a product credit scheme and a used equipment offsetting service.

• Expert staff and workshops

In the store, instead of the usual five people, eight employees who have received exclusive Apple Premium Partner training help to serve customers smoothly. The Apple Premium Partner store concept also provides regular free education and open workshops for the general public. The courses starting in the spring offer topics such as MacOS work for beginners, tips and tricks for advanced Mac users, and video editing.

• Highest level customer service, continuous corporate consulting

In parallel with outstanding service, iSTYLE elevates its offerings by catering to the need of entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses with exclusive deals. Dedicated staff, specialized in corporate users and experienced in financing corporate hardware, are in-store to serve corporate clients.

In 2022, iSTYLE Hungary Kft. excelled with sales revenue compared to the previous year, mainly due to a strong increase in consumer sales. Renewal and expansion of the store network also continued, as a result of which iSTYLE now welcomes customers at nine stores in four cities across the country – Budapest, Győr, Debrecen and Szeged. In the future, in addition to the opening of additional stores, plans include converting several iSTYLE brand stores into Apple Premium Partner stores.

More about iSTYLE

iSTYLE, an affiliate of the Midis Group, is the largest network of Apple Premium retail stores in nine countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The first iSTYLE store was opened in 1999, and currently the company has 57 stores located in Central and Eastern European and 19 in the Middle East and North Africa. The network of Spanish sister company K-Tuin consists of another 33 stores, totaling up to more than 100 stores for the Midis Group.

3T and Intalio sign key agreement at LEAP 2023 to resell Intalio products and services into the Saudi Arabian market

Riyadh, February 8, 2023 — Leading technology solutions and integration service provider 3T and Intalio, a major provider of Digital Transformation Solutions in Europe, today signed an agreement for 3T to resell Intalio products and services into the Saudi market.

The agreement was signed at LEAP 2023 in Riyadh by 3T Deputy General Manager, Fawzi El Khatib and Intalio Sales Director, Ali Hmedeh, covering the Saudi Arabian market.

The agreement covers a range of key products and solutions from Intalio, including Intalio Content Services, Intalio Process Automation, Intalio Data Governance, SAIF, Safety Analytics, and Investigation List. The low-code solutions help businesses optimize their workflow, manage their content life cycles, and assume full control over their critical data.

“This is an exciting moment for us at 3T; it’s a great honor to partner with Intalio to expand their presence in the Saudi market and an opportunity to make a real contribution to the Digital Transformation agenda in the nation” said George Malouf, GM of 3T.

“This partnership reflects our desire and determination to expand in the technology market in KSA and contribute to achieving Vision 2030. This strategic collaboration will offer businesses in the Kingdom the solutions they need to start and complete their digital transformation journey. The market here is growing and we are willing to provide what it needs to achieve this growth” said Intalio’s Executive Country Manager, Riyad Alasheikh.

More about Intalio

Intalio is a leading business solutions vendor providing a wide product line of solutions essential for the success of businesses. A pioneer in Enterprise Content Services (ECS), Process Automation, Data Governance Services, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and cutting-edge technologies, Intalio is always leading the way in the market of business solutions and digital transformation.

More about 3T

Total Technical Triangle (3T) is a comprehensive technology solutions and integration service provider with over 15 years of experience. 3T is under the Al-Rumaih Group (MMR) in Saudi Arabia and is part of the Midis Group. 3T was founded in 2005 with a major focus on Dell products, catering for the Large Public and Private sectors of the Kingdom.

In the past three years, 3T has expanded its partnership with Dell and became a Titanium partner covering Dell, EMC & VMware. Today the company is also a Microsoft License Provider and an Apple Authorized Reseller in Saudi with a focus on B2B sales.

3T is aiming to be a major contributor in achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy and aspires to spearhead futuristic technology solutions to enhance their clients’ proficiencies, competencies, and return on investment.

Mindware partners with Cloudflare to provide organizations in Middle East & Turkey with Digital and Cyber Security Solutions

DUBAI, UAE, February 7, 2023: Mindware, a leading value-added distributor (VAD) in the Middle East and Africa, announced today its strategic partnership with Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the security, performance, and reliability company helping to build a better Internet. Mindware will provide sales support, go-to-market programs and after-sales services for Cloudflare solutions in the Middle East & Turkey.

Nicholas Argyrides, General Manager – Gulf at Mindware noted, “The pace of digital transformation has accelerated in recent years, driven by the organizational need to enable a hybrid workplace. The incidence of cyberthreats has grown and evolved to an extremely high level of sophistication. In response to the needs of our partners and their customers, Mindware is relentlessly enhancing our cyber security capabilities. We have a robust focus on this segment, with an increased investment in resources, training and certifications over a wide array of security vendors.”

“We are very happy to have strengthened our portfolio with this newest addition of Cloudflare. We look forward to combining our expertise in designing and distributing our solutions with Cloudflare’s innovation-driven offerings that enable a more reliable, secure and private Internet,” he continued.

“Accelerating channel driven business is part of our growth and expansion strategy across the Middle East & Turkey region, where we were on the lookout for a trusted value-added distributor that can support us on that journey. We saw a lot of synergy between our go-to-market strategy and that of Mindware which is key for the success of our new partnership. Eyad AlShami, Channel Manager at Cloudflare will be leading the day-to-day partnership to proactively and successfully expand with new channel partners at the regional level” explained Bashar Bashaireh, Managing Director, Middle East & Turkey (MET) at Cloudflare.

More about Cloudflare

Cloudflare provides security, performance, and reliability services through its global network that spans more than 275 cities in over 100 countries, and spans 17 cities in The Middle East. On average, Cloudflare blocks 126 billion cyber threats each day for millions of Internet properties across the globe.

More about Mindware

As one of the leading distributors of the finest IT products in the Middle East and Africa, Mindware’s extensive portfolio includes top-class global brands reaching out to over 4,000 partners. Mindware’s comprehensive offering includes a selection of infrastructure, networking, security, and storage leading brands. As part of its VAD methodology, Mindware also offers supplementary value-added services to its reselling partners including pre-sales consultancy, implementation services, local technical support, marketing enablement tools, and multiple channel-enabling programs. Headquartered in Dubai UAE since 1991, Mindware has been uncompromisingly serving its customers for more than three decades.

MDS CS wins important Cisco contract with Almoosa Specialist Hospital in KSA

MDS for Computer Systems (MDS CS) has signed an important agreement to supply Cisco systems to Almoosa Specialist Hospital in Al Ahsa, KSA. The Rehab New Tower project will see extensive deployment of Cisco solutions including wired network, wireless network and unified communication / collaboration solutions (IP telephone & Video conferencing).

Part of the solution also includes use of Cisco DNA space which will enable the team at Almoosa to achieve the below outcomes once they integrate with other third party solutions:

• Environmental Monitoring: this deploys humidity and temperature sensors to monitor the hospital environment.
• Indoor Navigation & Wayfinding: indoor maps and accurate indoor positioning to digitize hospital spaces.
• Seamless Wi-Fi Onboarding: driving differentiated loyalty experiences and zero-touch Wi-Fi onboarding via OpenRoaming.
• Asset Tracking: determining the current and historical location of all devices connected to the institutional network and visualizing them.
• Indoor Location Analytics: providing Behavior Analytics, Trends and Insights for people within the hospital estate.
• Occupancy Monitoring: helping management know how many people there are across the sites.

More about Almoosa Specialist Hospital

Almoosa Specialist Hospital is a world-class health system that promotes wellness and heals illness founded in 1996 as the first private hospital in Ahsa, offering high-quality integrated healthcare. Ranked among the best ten hospitals in the GCC, the hospital aims to provide patients with the best care in the Kingdom and GCC with qualified, competent caregivers using the latest technologies and evidence-based techniques.

Almoosa Specialist Hospital is also an academic teaching hospital accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties – SCHS – with 12 residency programs and two fellowships programs. The hospital provides the best human-centered care with a capacity of over 380 beds, with a diverse team of more than 3000 caregivers working together to achieve one mission: to promote hope and well-being for our society.

More about MDS for Computer Systems (MDS CS)

Founded in 1982 by Sheikh Mohammed Mansour Al-Rumaih as Mideast Data Systems, today MDS CS is a well-known and highly reputable organization with a team of professional engineers and technicians, with a large base of satisfied customers including significant numbers of large turnkey projects.

MDS CS takes a highly professional approach to meet each of its customers’ unique business requirements. Its commitment in terms of financial investment and customer support is aimed at a long-term relationship with its customers.

iSTYLE promotes well-being with new ‘Start The Movement’ campaign

January 12, 2023, Bucharest: iSTYLE, the largest network of Apple Premium Reseller stores in Central and Eastern Europe, has launched the ‘Start The Movement’ campaign to encourage Apple fans to do more sports, choose a more active and healthy life and monitor their results with the help of products such as Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Ultra series, Apple AirPods and Apple Smartphones.

Start The Movement is the first campaign in Romania involving influencers from different fields – nutrition, medicine, sports motivation, lifestyle and vlogging – joining their efforts together as ambassadors for the initiative. The six influencers promoted #StartTheMovement among their digital communities and invited them to take part in the first action – a swimming competition. The public response was enthusiastic and hundreds of people signed up to the campaign through direct participation supporting their favourite influencers.

Swimming is one of the most complete and beneficial sports for health. At the Dinamo Sports Club swimming pool, six teams of supporters of a healthy lifestyle – amateurs or performance athletes, outdoor or indoor exercise enthusiasts – competed in different swimming styles. Each team was coordinated by their favourite influencer and cheered on by supporters in the stands.

“It becomes easier to make a lifestyle change with support, especially when we are talking about starting to practice a sport. Unfortunately, our daily routine often prevents us from being consistent or adopting the most suitable habits. Apple has understood this need in recent years and has created products that are more and more innovative, more intuitive and more adapted to the needs of its users” said Alina Gheorghiu, Marketing Manager, iSTYLE Romania.

“In turn, iSTYLE decided to encourage people to join the community of exercise lovers. That’s why we thank all those who got involved in the first edition of the ‘Start The Movement’ campaign, a campaign that was not limited to a specific action, but has given birth to a trend” said Alina Gheorghiu.

The six influencers united their efforts to promote sports and a healthy lifestyle not only by personal example but by attracting their own supporters who, in turn, involved their families and friends. The snowball effect continues and the conversation remains open.

The next edition of ‘Start The Movement’ will take place in February 2023. On istyle.ro/StartTheMovement, information about those who are supporting the campaign will always be updated along with data about future competitions, but also about Apple technologies adapted to an active lifestyle.

Apple Watch Series, swimming partner

When swimming training is selected, Apple Watch automatically locks the screen with Water Lock to prevent accidental touches. When the workout is over, the Digital Crown unlocks the screen and drains the water from the speaker. Considering laps in a pool or swimming in open water, the features of Apple smartwatches help you monitor the parameters you care about and check your progress in real time. When the workout is over, Apple Watch shows you a summary of it, including the swimming styles practiced. To correlate more data, you can review your workout history in the Fitness app on your iPhone.

Apple Watch estimates measurements during workouts based on information entered at the setup time. For pool swimming, when starting a workout, the length of the pool must be specified to help Apple Watch measure laps and distance covered. GPS isn’t used while swimming in the pool, and water can prevent heart rate measurement, but calories, laps, and distance will still be tracked using the built-in accelerometer. For open water swimming, the GPS will only measure distance for freestyle. Water may prevent heart rate measurement, but calories will be tracked using the built-in accelerometer.

More about iSTYLE Retail Romania

iSTYLE manages 15 locations in Bucharest and the main cities in the country. They total over 1,700 sq metres of premium high-tech retail, designed and executed with Apple’s signature attention to detail, and serviced by over 80 consultants trained to the highest standards. iSTYLE premises are adapted so that the focus is on customer safety and the constant provision of the best quality services.

iSTYLE, part of the Midis Group, is the largest network of Apple Premium Reseller stores in Central and Eastern Europe. iSTYLE has been providing Romanian customers with the highest quality and continuous services for over 20 years through a competent team of certified specialists permanently trained to Apple standards.