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SR300,000 for a phone number [Arab News (Saudi Arabia)](Arab News (Saudi Arabia) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) • Auction of special numbers in progress. (Photo by Iqbal Hossain) Riyadh: MD Rasooldeen | ARAB NEWS STAFF A Saudi citizen recently bought a number of his choosing for a whopping SR300,000. The sale was made at an auction for unique mobile numbers organized by the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh on Tuesday. The program began after Isha prayers and only ended late night because of the huge turnout. A total of 64 special numbers were classified into "diamond," "gold" and "silver" categories. An official from the STC told Arab News that the auctioneer could not sell all the numbers since certain bids were below the expected mark. "Those numbers will be sold at a subsequent occasion that will be arranged by the company in the near future," he said. "We made SR5 million from this auction, but hope to make much more." He said the auction was open to everyone above the age of 15. He pointed out that that bids for the silver category started at SR3,000. Participants took part in the auction either in person or through someone with a power of attorney. To take part in the auction, candidates paid the deposit specified for each mobile number category to bank account 70114400875 or IBAN number SA56555000000070114400875 at the Saudi Fransi Bank. Arab News spoke with the successful bidders, who refused to reveal their identity nor their chosen telephone numbers for personal reasons. "Muhammed," a 35-year-old businessman who bought a special number for SR20,000, told Arab News that its nice to have a special number which can be easily remembered by the callers. "There is some kind of satisfaction at having a special number," he added. Another bidder in the silver category, who had offered up to SR10,000 for a special number, said he withdrew from bidding because he could not afford to pay more than that. (c) 2014 Arab News All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info). |