CROWDS of people gathered at the Landmark yesterday to participate in the latest event organised by Vodafone ahead of their launch in Qatar in the coming months. The company is set to launch its network on March 1, with stores opening throughout the country – including one in Landmark – on May 1. Guests searched the mall in the afternoon to find 500 jigsaw puzzle pieces, which were then entered into a draw for 40 gift-packs containing a Blackberry Storm handset and UEFA football. This was followed by the draw for the grand prize – an all-expenses paid trip for two to see the Champions League Final in Rome including business class tickets and a stay in a five-star hotel. Ex-champions league winner Ronald de Boer drew the prize-winning tickets, and the main prize went to Mohamed Ayden Ahmed from Somalia. Chief marketing officer for Vodafone Qatar, Michael Portz explained that the company’s campaign was aimed at “getting a feel for the general public, and getting them to help build Vodafone here, which is symbolised by the puzzle pieces being put together to create the Vodafone world.” He said that the network would be launched to 1,000 users as a trial on March 1 which would last two months, adding that there would be many other “fun and exciting events” in the lead-up to the launch and afterwards. “Anyone interested in being one of these 1,000 users can simply register online at www.vodafone.com.qa to be in with a chance of being selected,” he added. He also explained that all the Vodafone numbers would begin with a seven, as the Arabic number looks like a letter ‘V.’ Speaking to Gulf Times at the event, de Boer said that he was thrilled to be a part of the project because of the “need for competition” in the market in Qatar and also because of the significance of football and the champions league in his career. “This is an absolutely fantastic prize, not only because of the opportunity to see the game, but also because Rome is a very beautiful city,” he added. http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=268509&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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