Hospital offers hope to sick computers

If your computer is sick again around midnight, you don't have to wait till the next day for emergency treatment. Just dial the Computer Hospital on 050-6959119, a 24-hour customer helpline being offered through World Systems Computers. Most minor queries are handled over the phone free of cost. If the technical difficulty cannot be solved over the phone, then the machine has to be admitted into the workshops for further inspection.

This year-old service is the answer for all those suffering with their computers after hours. Most calls are placed to them before 1.00am. World Systems also offers onsite service for its customers, but this is only during 9.00am-1.00pm and 5.00pm-9.00pm. At present the onsite service is offered mainly in Dubai and sometimes in Sharjah. Three technicians are always on hand to handle queries.

Engineer Wissam Al Saffar, the managing director, says: "Simple queries are handled by Sadiq on the mobile phone. If a specialisation is required, then the customer is referred to the right technician." He added that it is difficult for them to offer the service in other places like Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah at present.

Network problems are handled onsite, but on various occasions the computer might have to be taken to the workshop as the technicians cannot carry around all the necessary tools. The workshop is situated on the computer street in Dubai.