My Wataniya

What is Backstage?

Access to unlimited music on your mobile and PC
Backstage is an unlimited music download service from Wataniya, you can choose all the music you want to download and it's all included in the price of the subscription. You also get to keep 10 FREE tracks of your choice every month. Backstage is available on both your mobile & PC so you can listen to you playlists across both platforms.

Create your own playlists and share them with friends
As well as being able to download unlimited music, Backstage offers you a range of tools with which to manage your music like: Rate tracks, build playlists, share playlists, choose favorite tracks.

Exclusive fun and the latest gossip about the stars
As part of the Backstage community you will have the chance to participate in competitions where you can win free ringtones and even tickets to meet your favorite artist. We will not only keep you up to date with all the breaking news from the music industry but we will also share stories of previous winners who have travelled the globe, thanks to Backstage.

Get 10 Free Tracks to Keep
Every month you get to pick 10 tracks to keep, the best part is it's all included in the price of your subscription. These special 10 FREE tracks can be moved onto any computer or mobile or shared with friends. They are yours forever. At the start of your next 30 day subscription we give you 10 new FREE tracks to choose from our extensive library.

Backstage is also available from other Qtel companies
Backstage is a Qtel family product so it's available from other Qtel companies including Qtel Qatar, Virgin Mobile in Qatar and Nawras in Oman.

How does it work?

Download the Backstage application to get started
Backstage is an application so it can be downloaded & saved on your mobile & PC. For more information on how to set-up Backstage read the "Getting Started" section.

Download it on your mobile
You can download Backstage on your mobile through our FREE Wap portal (http://myW) using Wap APN. Send a free SMS with the letter "B" to 123 to receive your download link or visit http://myw/backstage on your mobile browser to download or subscribe to Backstage.

Download it on your PC
You can download Backstage on your PC by visiting the myW site, http://myw.wataniya.com/backstage.
There, you will see a link to download it. Just follow the instructions on your Windows Download Wizard.

Try it before you buy it
If you go to our website "http://myw.wataniya.com/backstage" you can see what Backstage looks like on the PC. You can also download the Backstage player to your PC and browse it in the Preview status without a subscription.

What do I need to make it work?

Backstage application works with most mobile phone types
Backstage is built to work on the following mobile operating systems: BlackBerry, Android, J2ME & iPhone. If your mobile works on any of the previously mentioned operating systems then you can use Backstage. Blackberry customers please note you will need to have enabled your Blackberry service in order to access Backstage.

Your 3G mobile phone is the best match for the Backstage application
Backstage is built to work on the following mobile operating systems: BlackBerry, Android, J2ME & iPhone. If your mobile works on any of the previously mentioned operating systems then you can use Backstage. Blackberry customers please note you will need to have enabled your Blackberry service in order to access Backstage.

You'll need Explorer 7 on your PC for Backstage
Backstage is built to work with the following internet browsers: Windows Explorer version 7 or above and for iPhone users you will also need to download iTunes for PC.

Where will it work?

Anywhere in Kuwait where there is 3G or WiFi
Backstage works anywhere in Kuwait on your mobile where you have a 3G signal or a WiFi connection. For PC, WiFi or ADSL connection is recommended.

No extra data charges in Kuwait
If you are using this service in Kuwait there are no extra data charges for browsing Backstage or downloading music from Backstage.

Roaming rates apply if you use your Backstage abroad
You can use your Backstage abroad as well, but you will be charged standard roaming rates if you browse Backstage or download music while you are travelling abroad.

Is Backstage legal?

Backstage is totally legal
Yes, all the music in Backstage is legally supplied by recognized music industry labels like Universal, Melody & Mazzika. The Qtel family and Wataniya have signed legal agreements with these companies to ensure proper distribution without violations of any laws. Therefore you are legally entitled to use the Backstage service according to our Terms & Conditions.

What are the limitations of Backstage?

Backstage does not work with Zain or Viva
You will not be able to use Backstage with a Zain or Viva SIM. You will need to have a Wataniya network SIM in order to use Backstage.

Your bandwidth is your only limit
There is no limit, you can download as many tracks as your bandwidth on your mobile or PC can support. So please ensure you are always using a 3G connection.

Backstage on iPhone
You can browse and listen to music on iPhone with Backstage. However, iPhone works differently to other mobiles because Apple does not allow you to download and save any music that was not brought from Apple on their iTunes store. This means to redeem your 10 FREE tracks every month you will need to save your FREE tracks on PC, sync your iPhone to your iTunes on PC. Once you have performed this sync you will see your tracks in Library/PC Downloads. Just click each track to download it from the PC over to your iPhone.

You don't pay for data charges when downloading like you would with iTunes
With Backstage any data charges are already built into the price of the subscription so you can download as much music as you like without any extra or hidden costs.

How do I get Backstage?

Download Backstage on your Mobile or PC and subscribe
Backstage is a music community that you subscribe to very much like a regular magazine subscription but with ours you get unlimited music downloads plus 10 FREE tracks to keep forever (every 30 days).
There are 2 types of subscriptions to choose from and buy:

Arabic
English

What's inside a subscription?

Arabic Music
The subscription includes only Arabic artist & music: for example, Ragheb Alama, Myriam Fares, Carole Samaha, Yara, Jad Choueiri, Haifa Wehbe, Ehab Tawfik, Nawal Al Zoghbi, Samira Saeed etc.

International Music The subscription includes only international artists from the world's single largest catalogue of Universal Music : Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Amy Winehouse, Enrique Iglesias, Mika, Mary J Blige, Pussycat Dolls, NeYo, Rihanna,Akon, Eminem, JayZ,Kayne West, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, 50 Cent, Rolling Stones, Sting, Bon Jovi, James Brown and many more.

How much does a subscription cost?

There are 3 subscription packages to choose from:
Unlimited Arabic Music - KD 2 every 30 days
Unlimited Western Music - KD 1 every 30 days
Unlimited English and Arabic Music - KD 3 every 30 days

No additional charges
You do not pay individually for every track. All the music you download is included in the price of your subscription.

How does Backstage compare to iTunes?

Get more music and Pay less with Backstage
Backstage offers you a lot more music to download for half the price compared to iTunes and with iTunes you pay data charges every time you download. With Backstage downloading is totally FREE so you are in complete control of your music costs each month because everything is included in the price of your Backstage subscription! Also included in your subscription are 10 DRM free tracks that you can keep forever. You can pick any song from the music catalogue for your 10 free tracks. (Insert Image)

How does the subscription work?

30 days of unlimited music for yo
Your subscription is valid for 30 days. The subscription starts the day you purchase Backstage and ends on the 30th day from your original purchase date.

You get 30 more days automatically
You don't have to remember to renew your Backstage subscription every time. Our system will automatically renew your subscription on your behalf every 30 days.

Go to our myW site to cancel your subscription
You can cancel your subscription at any time just by visiting the myW site on the web or mobile.

You get the best deal with the Backstage monthly subscription
The only subscription period available is 30 days. The benefit is easy to see in the "How does it compare to iTunes" section. We charge on an average 50% less than iTunes for the same 10 tracks per month but we also (included in the price of our subscription) allow you to choose & download thousands of extra songs (with no data charges). This means you can simply pick a song because you want to listen to it all the time without buying it - something you cannot do on iTunes.

Lifetime Backstage subscription
Sorry, we only offer a monthly subscription but remember we do renew your subscription automatically so unless you cancel your subscription it can run for months on end.

We'll send you a message when you subscribe for the first time
You will get a confirmation message stating your subscription is now activated.

We'll let you know when your subscription is coming to an end
Whenever you are nearing the end of your current 30 day period we will send you an SMS informing you that we are about to renew your subscription. If you wish to cancel it you can do so at any time.

Find out your next subscription renewal date on your mobile Go to 'My profile' on your mobile to find out your next subscription renewal date.

Step 1: Download Backstage

Download Backstage on your mobile
Once you have purchased a Backstage music subscription or activated a FREE trial you can then download the Backstage application to your mobile.

Send a free SMS with the letter "B" to 123, or type http://myw/backstage in your mobile internet browser on your WAP APN. You will then be directed to our free WAP portal.
When you arrive to the Wap portal either click a banner advertising Backstage or select the music icon on the top of the homepage.
You will be taken to the Backstage offer page where there is a "download the client" link. Click this link & follow the download instructions (if you are an Android user you will be directed to the Android Market Place to download Backstage for Android, if you are an iPhone user you will be directed to the iTunes store to download Backstage).
Once Backstage has finished downloading you will be able to find it either in your mobile main menu or mobile "downloads" folder.
Click the "Backstage" icon to open the music store & start downloading music.

Download Backstage on your PC
Once you have purchased a Backstage music subscription or activated a FREE trial you can then download the music store to your PC. Please ensure that you are using Windows Explorer version 7 or above.

Using your PC, go to our website "http://myw.wataniya.com/backstage"
On our homepage you will find the link to "Download PC Client". Click this link to begin the download.
Follow the instructions of your Windows Wizard & save it when download is complete
Then go into "Start/All Programs" to find the Backstage logo link.
Select the Backstage link to open Backstage on your PC & start downloading music.

Note: iPhone customers are advised to also download iTunes for Windows in order to sync music between PC & iPhone.

Step 2: Login for Backstage on PC

Request a password

Visit http://myw.wataniya.com/
On the top right-hand corner click the login link and then click on "new user"
Enter your mobile number in the new window that opens & click "Submit"
We will then SMS a new password to your mobile number

Login using a password

Retrieve your password from your mobile.
Go to Backstage PC client on your PC
Enter your mobile number and the password we have sent you in the top right-hand corner of the homepage, in the login area.
Click Submit. You will now be logged into Backstage on your PC.

Inform us about your new mobile number for uninterrupted Backstage access
Please be aware that we use your mobile number as part of your Backstage PC Login. If you change your phone more than twice in a month then you will not be able to access your Backstage subscription. Please call customer care services if this happens so they can advise you on how to solve the problem.

Inform us about your new PC for uninterrupted Backstage access
Please be aware that we use the IP address from your PC as part of your Backstage PC subscription rights. If you change your PC then you will not be able to access your Backstage subscription. Please call customer services if this happens so they can advise you on how to solve the problem.

Step 3: Preview Music

How do I preview a song?
Select a song from the Backstage store and then click on "pre-listen" or a small speaker icon next to the track. The preview will last for 30 seconds.

Step 4: Downloading Music

How long does a song take to download?
An average song is 3 megabytes in size and the amount of time it takes to download a file this size varies depending on your network connection. Below is an approximate time schedule for different networks:

20 seconds on an average with a 2MB fixed network
1 minute and 30 seconds on a 3G connection
9 minutes and 30 seconds on an EDGE connection
28 minutes and 30 seconds on a GPRS connection

How do I know which songs are currently in the download queue?
Go to 'My Library' and select ' Download Queue'.

How can I find out whether the songs are being downloaded?
Go to 'My Library' and view 'Recently Added'

How can I find the songs that have finished downloading?
Go to 'My Library' and view 'Mobile Downloads'.

How can I see the songs on my mobile that I've downloaded on my PC?
Go to 'My Library' and select 'PC Downloads'.

My PC crashed. Will my songs be available when I access the Backstage portal?
We will store your library of songs for you. However, you will need to re-download the songs again to your new PC.

Get 10 Free Tracks Every Month

What happens if I don't use all of my 10 FREE tracks each month?
It’s simple, you lose them if you don't use them. So if you fail to download all 10 they will not be carried over to the next month. To make the most of your subscription we recommend you choose & download all your 10 FREE tracks every month.

If I have downloaded a DRM free track & deleted it by mistake can I download it again for free?
Yes you can download it again but you it will not be "free". You will have to use up another one of your 10 DRM Free monthly tokens to do this.

Can I play music in the background while I browse for more songs?
Yes, just select 'Options' on the player and select 'Go to My Library'. However if you are using an iPhone you will need operating system version 4 or above.

Listen to Unlimited Music

If I have downloaded an "unlimited" music track & deleted it by mistake can I download it again for free?
Yes, you can download it again for free.

How do I delete tracks?
Go to 'My Library' & highlight the track you would like to delete and select 'Options' to delete the track.

Rate Tracks

I rated a track but why is my rating not showing?
When you rate a track, your rating is sent to us. At midnight the same day we gather up all the rating from every customer & apply them to the music. So the next day you will see a rating against the song you rated but it will be the average rating based on all Backstage customers feedback.

Search for Tracks

Is there somewhere I can search for specific tracks by typing the name of the track?
The open search feature doesn't exist for Backstage on the mobile due to the limitation of how small the mobile screen size is, however on PC under "store/categories", there is a search box which allows you to type in a name and search for tracks

Preview

Can I preview a track before downloading it?
Yes you can "preview" any song on both PC & mobile.

How long is a preview?
30 seconds (3 times longer than an iTunes preview).

Exclusive Backstage Events

Is Backstage going to host any concerts in Kuwait? Wataniya will host music events and concerts for the Backstage community in the near future. For confirmation on dates & line-ups please keep checking Backstage (link to Backstage page) & our Facebook (link to http://www.facebook.com/wataniyatelecomkuwait) page.

Synchronise Backstage between mobile & PC

Synchronize Backstage to your PC
We automatically transfer your playlist from mobile to your Backstage web store. So when you login to your Backstage music store on the PC & click on "Playlist" you will see your songs. You will need to download all music on the playlists to play the music. To find out which songs in your playlist are not download click on any song in the playlist. If the song is not downloaded, you will be asked to download it.

Synchronize Backstage to your iPhone
iPhone works differently compared to other mobiles because Apple does not allow you to download and save any music that was not bought from the iTunes store. This means to redeem your 10 FREE tracks every month you will need to choose your FREE tracks on your PC and sync your iPhone to your iTunes on PC. Once you have performed this sync on your iPhone you will see your tracks in your Library/PC Downloads. Just click each track to download it from the PC over to your iPhone.

Your Profile

How do I edit my favorite track of the day?
Go to My Profile on the right panel in 'My library'. You will be able to change it there or simply select the check button.

How do I edit my status?
You will be able to change your status from the 'My Profile' page.

Software Updates

Why do I have to accept software updates?
New features and bug fixes are constantly being added to the new client to improve the user experience. Downloaded tracks will not be deleted after software upgrade so you have nothing to worry about.

Other Internet Browsers

Can I use Firefox as my internet browser?
No, music files are in WMA format which is not supported by Firefox.

Privacy Policy

What is the Backstage Privacy Policy?
Our privacy policy relates to the information we request from you in the course of setting up your account and processing your payment for music downloads. We retain some of this information to identify who you are on returning visits in order to make your use of the service run as smoothly as possible. We will not pass on your information to third parties without your permission.

If I have an Arabic Backstage subscription & I build a playlist, can I share that playlist with International Backstage customers?
No, you cannot share your playlist with an International Backstage subscriber.

Changing your subscription

How do I upgrade/downgrade my Backstage subscription?
To upgrade to another package you need to first cancel your existing subscription. You can do this via your mobile either by cancelling on the Wap portal visiting http://myw/backstage or on the web by visiting http://myw.wataniya.com/backstage or by calling customer care on 121.
You then need to purchase a new subscription. For more information on buying a subscription please read the "Get Backstage" section.

What happens to my music if I upgrade to a more expensive subscription?
If you upgrade from either Arabic or English to both Arabic and English, you will keep all your music. However if you change from Arabic to English these are totally different genres of music so you will lose all the Arabic music you downloaded from your Arabic catalogue, except of course the 10 DRM tracks per month that you keep.

What happens to my music if I downgrade to a less expensive subscription?
If you downgrade from both English and Arabic to either Arabic or English you will lose some of your music from your library & playlists. If you choose to downgrade from Unlimited to Arabic you will lose all your English music. If you choose to downgrade from Both Arabic and English to English you will lose all your Arabic music.

Why do I lose music by downgrading?
This is because all the extra unlimited music we give you is not yours to keep forever, the music you keep forever are the 10 FREE tracks per month. All other music is rented by you & as long as you are subscribed to the music genre you choose the music from there and you will have access to all the music in that genre. This way of offering you music allows you to pick & play a lot more music then if you had had to buy each track individually.

If I subscribed to the wrong subscription by mistake is it possible to get a refund & change my subscription?
If you have made a mistake we are sorry but we are unable to provide a refund as there was no fault with the service itself, unfortunately this was a user error. We suggest you cancel your existing subscription & then purchase the subscription you wanted originally.

Cancelling your subscription

How do I cancel a subscription?
There are two ways to cancel your subscription:

Online through your PC or mobile:
Web: http://myw.wataniya.com/backstage
WAP: http://myw/backstage
Call our customer care at 121

What does it mean when I cancel a subscription & how quickly will it work?
We will immediately send a report to our system that you are not to be billed for any further 30 day subscriptions. However your current subscription will remain in place until the end of your current 30 day period. Remember, you have not cancelled your current 30 days by choosing to cancel; you have only cancelled any future 30 day payments.

Can I get a refund if I cancel mid-month?
We're unable to give you a refund on your remaining days but you can enjoy the service till the end of your 30 day period.

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