More and more opt to express Eid greetings by SMS

Communications technology progresses on a daily basis and even the most ancient traditions of the Arab world are not immune to its relentless onward march.

UAE national Jowhar Ali, 22, an airline industry worker who lives in Dubai, sends 30 to 35 text messages to her friends and relations each day during Eid.

"It's so easy. You can send a lot at the same time so it doesn't take long to send them. I call people as well maybe around 20 but I never send cards," she said, adding that her Etisalat bill for the whole of Eid approaches Dh100.

"It's a very nice way of sending greetings. It's very convenient and very easy. You can send the same message to all your friends and you get messages back from them too," she said.

Ali Jaffer Ali, 22, a UAE national, has called about 20 to 25 friends and sent SMSs to nearly 20 more

"Sending an SMS is easier and it's cheaper than making international calls. Those people who live nearby I call but for those further away an SMS is better.

Not everyone, however, is suffering from sore fingers because of too much text messaging. Some people prefer to use longer-established methods of getting in touch.

Eisa Omar, a 33-year-old UAE national who lives in Dubai, calls those friends he wants to give compliments of the season to.

"If you forget someone during the rest of the year, you make sure you remember them during Eid.

"I don't send SMS messages although I receive them from some people. I think most people nowadays use SMSs but I prefer to talk to them on the telephone or meet them face-to-face," he said.

The even more old fashioned way of sending Eid wishes the greetings card has still not disappeared.

Abu-Dhabi-based Jenny Munro, 24, from New Zealand, sends cards to those she is closest to.

"It's not personal enough to send an SMS or an e-mail to family members or very close friends although I send messages to my friends around the world," she said.

Filipina Janet Jayme, 38, a cook who lives in Abu Dhabi, also thinks cards are the best way of saying hi.

Fewer staff
Customers say services below par

Etisalat customers complained that services during Eid holidays were below par.

Several residents contacted by Gulf News said that there was hardly any response from the directory inquiry services. Some said they were made to wait on line for 15 minutes with a recorded message and then hung up on them.

An official from Etisalat told Gulf News that there was too much pressure during Eid holidays. "Many people are calling and many of our staff are off during Eid so it is difficult to respond to all of our clients," the official said.

Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter