The Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) has announced details of its plans to accelerate the value-added services (VAS) sector within the Middle East in 2011, writes Martin Conway.

The proposals, officially unveiled at the inaugural ‘MEF Connects Qatar’ industry event in Doha on Wednesday, include the provision of regional analytics, to measure actual and potential growth, relevant trade development activities and business-focused initiatives to encourage best practice across the region.

The first fruit of the scheme is a bespoke report focusing on app store trends in key Middle East markets, particularly in comparison to trends in the US. According to MEF, there is a clear disparity when it comes to popularity of gaming apps; while 56 per cent of the most popular apps in the US are games, this figure stands at 29 per cent for the Middle East.

Earlier this year, MEF launched its Middle East office at the Qatar Science & Technology Park, in cooperation with Qatar-based telco Qtel Group. Rimma Perelmuter, MEF executive director, says: “MEF’s Middle East office will create an influential community and vital platform for sharing knowledge across our global membership to foster mobile innovation and accelerate growth for one of the world’s fastest growing mobile VAS markets.”