Posted by: Bites85 on October 10, 2008 at 3:20 AM
Post by Bites85 of Newz on Fire
Mobile Phones surged into Human beings rapidly, and soon they got addicted to this technology marvel. There are almost 2.7 billion mobile users around the world, ranging from teens to tycoons. Every single person loves to hang out with this device – or say, they simply can’t think of life without it.
In Pakistan cellular industry has shown rapid growth, especially in last few years… As per PTA stats, there are 89 million mobile users in the country, which were only couple of millions some years ago. This clearly depicts that how gigantic Telecom Industry has become.
Every company is trying to beat its nemesis – and efforts are clearly seen to beat each other in this corporate battle. Where these cellular companies brought tons of investment into country, and played constructive role in bettering lifestyles, at same time the tussle between cellular companies has actively spoiled our youth. Every single boy and girl has a mobile phone and they are found texting and talking on their cell phone all the times.
Let’s discuss the impact on youth of various services and packages that cellular companies offer
Night Packages:
These days every company is providing very inexpensive (or even free) calls at night. These calls are like Rs. 5 and, hence are affordable for even an average teen. They talk all night long with their (girl/boy) friends. Use their pocket money to buy credits. At times, even they cheat their parents, and use mobile without their permission. Many boys and girls also talk to their so called lovers. Which can be basically termed as a teen crush?
A study done by a British institute revealed that late night mobile chatting makes teens tired and mentally distorted - as they have to wake up early. Consequently they can’t concentrate on their studies and are often found sleeping in their classes.
Sms Craze:
Messaging, messaging and messaging is what the teens do these days. It’s a symbol of being cool. The one who got more messages is considered the cool one. Teens forward jokes, romantic lines, riddles and even immoral adult messages. SMS Craze in teens can be judged by the typing speed and their accuracy to type messages on little dial pad. They just thumb the mobile and don’t stop.
Pedia Services:
Ask any question through sms is the newest service especially for the teens. Thanks to this service teens can now more efficiently cheat in their papers and quizzes. Zongopedia and ASK Telenor are two services. You can easily send a question through sms. Soon you receive answer and get good marks. It’s just another way to make money for these companies by ruining the careers of teens.
Wap/EDGE:
Now days you don’t need to turn on your pc on to use internet. Internet is just a click away thanks to wap/EDGE enabled mobiles. This service is good for the people who really need it. But teens normally use it to waste their time. First are the messengers which don’t let teens sleep at night, then comes the facebook and other social websites to keep them awake.
Un registered Sim cards:
The last thing which is the biggest menace is the un-registered sim cards. It gives you the passport to do all the wrong things because no one can catch you. I can bet that every single teen has a un-registered sim card. Our government tries so hard to block them but our teens are much smarter. You can talk to anyone, black mail them, do what ever you want.
Let me tell you a shocking thing about un-registered sim cards. I am doing my 2nd year from Army Public School & College, Ordnance road Rawalpindi. Yesterday there was a bomb blast threat at our school. Administration evacuated all the classes and asked the children to run to ground, and latter they were asked to leave for their homes earlier than routine time. Afterwards, they searched the school but it was just a rumor. Today through my close sources I got to know that it was a prank call made by a 7th class student from Saint Mary’s school Tulsa road Rawalpindi… He used an-unregistered sim card. Sadly he was caught by the authorities and God knows what they would have done with him.
MMS/Videos
There are hundreds of examples, where MMS and Videos of their lovers were captured by teenagers and what happens next is a topic that i am feeling is not good to touch… but one can imagine the seriousness of the issue!
Conclusion:
So who is responsible for all this? Cellular companies? Or we ourselves? Cellular companies are just doing their business. There goal is to make more and more revenue. As a business entity they don’t need to care about anything. In fact mobile companies encourage teenagers to call their lovers, for example in one of Telenor’s TVC, one guy asks another “Itnay minutes Aaliya ko mananay kay liye kafi hain na?”
So its we who let them spoil us. We are getting addicted to this device. Our parents should keep a check on us, at the same time we should save ourselves by controlling our desires. Think about it
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 6, 2008 at 1:50 PM
We have seen Mobilink’s declining sales in previous months, which maybe didn’t jolt experts’ mind due to their size and weight of customers. It’s very obvious that a company with subscribers’ base of 31 million can not attain growth rate of even 1 percent or so, also given that cellular subscribers’ teledensity has hit 56 percent mark.
But following figures of international outgoing traffic for cellular companies (through PTCL) for the period of April, May and June 2008 may wide open many eyes. A very reliable industry source has given us these stats (however these stats can’t be considered official – but we are likely to see them in coming PTA’s annual report) which reveals that Mobilink is almost disappearing from the graph.
May 2008 can be considered most shocking month for Mobilink, as they were able to generate merely 56,142 minutes for international calls compared 64,371 in June 2008. For all of three months, Mobilink earned total of 1,581,309 international minutes. Even Zong scored more international traffic than Mobilink with 5,356,917 minutes in the same period.
While on other hands, Ufone’s skyscraper is seen very firm standing at 81,340,900 minutes for three months. Warid is heading Telenor with 18,533,756 minutes, where Telenor gained 12,504,509 minutes. Instaphone seems contented with their 5,438 international outgoing minutes in three months.
This traffic information for international outgoing is just a depiction of market situation. However, we can’t actually assume this international traffic (through PTCL) as directly proportional to local or national traffic these companies have; but due to a fact that international traffic contributes major part in revenues (due to very low local call rates), it is considered vital. We are awaiting official comments from Mobilink on this.
We are not sure about how well Mobilink’s international call half rate offer played for them, but we hope that cellular giant is going to do enough in coming months to retain its position.
Note: These stats represent traffic carried away from PTCL Gateway for International outgoing calls only.
Update: In response to a question that If Mobilink uses any other gateway for international outgoing traffic other than PTCL?? If yes then what proportion of international traffic is routed to PTCL’s gateway? and what share goes to other resources?
Mobilink official replied: ” We use our own LDI (Long Distance International) in addition to PTCL”
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 29, 2008 at 3:30 AM
I have done plenty of posts regarding privacy issues related to cellular phones, and how they can be crucial if your personal information is handed over to undesired hands. Today, I am going to discuss another very sensitive issue that can add un-ending miseries to your life.
Problem
Problem is very simple, that is, if I am a postpaid customers, anyone can call my cellular company’s helpline, and can alter my billing address’ information after providing my CNIC number, home address and other basic information.
Now what will happen if my billing address is changed? Very simple, my bills will be delivered at new (and undesired) address. Hence, any one can have my call details.
In case you are getting e-statement for your postpaid bill, then scenario can get worst.
Offender can change my billing address again, after he/she has received my previous one month’s calling record. And this way, I will not even know the privacy breach that just happened.
Case Studies
Recently I met this person (I am not disclosing his identity on his request). He is a lawyer by profession and had a Mobilink postpaid number. His wife wanted to spy his phone activity. She achieved this by changing his billing address information to a new address where she had easy access.
She used to call several times a day to Mobilink helpline to figure out most inexperienced (innocent) CSR in the team, which she found one. After few days, she called again and asked for that particular CSR by name, on which she came online with her. Here, she asked this CSR (who was a lady too) to change the billing address of this postpaid number. She provided all information that was required. And her mission was achieved.
All of you can image about what would had happened next…
In another case reported to me was a person whose email (that was associated with Ufone postpaid number) got changed. And offender kept on receiving his bill via email for several months.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 24, 2008 at 4:14 AM
Unfortunately, Pakistanis had to bear Marriott’s blast on Saturday evening, which not only left physiological impact on Pakistani, but it affected our economy as well. This mishap also arose various questions pointing towards the flaws that our system has within it. In this post, I may not discuss all of them, but my focal point would encircle only the jolts that IT industry felt very severely.
Evacuee Trust Complex aka STP2 (Software Technology Park), is just adjust to Marriot Hotel, Islamabad. This five floored building is home place for a large number of software houses, banks, Multinational firms and even the head office of Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom.
The burst of 1 ton explosion was less than 1000 meters away from STP2 complex; hence caused serious damages to building.
Until now, media has been neglecting this damage that struck STP2 building, leaving it not a viable place to work for IT professionals (until it gets repaired). Thankfully it was a Saturday eve (normally a holiday), otherwise the dead toll may have gone exponentially high. Even now, around 6-10 deaths and 20+ injured are reported in STP2.
Future of these IT businesses is still uncertain, as professionals are being shifted or they are asked to work from their homes. Defiantly not an ideal situation to have…!
I was thinking what can we do in such circumstances? Are we left with multiple options? If not, then let’s join our hands together and help each other.
It has been reported that at least 100 companies are affected and urgently looking for alternate space. Some companies are:
LMKR
Siemens
MOTOROLA
Mondo, GEO PAQ
OVEX Technologies
Microsoft
BrightSpyre
Ministry of IT
PSEB
Bentley
PRAL
Inbox
CISCO
Pakistan Tobacco company and others
PSEB and P@SHA are on the scene and helping IT businesses to get their (temporary) offices. So, if you have some space available to offer to these IT companies, please contact PSEB or PASHA members.
Please share your views? What steps should be taken NOW? How to fight this evil of terrorism?
Also how these continuous economical attacks can be fought? If you were a victim of this attack, in any way, what steps your company has taken to ensure your safety?
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 18, 2008 at 7:38 AM
There was a news in print media yesterday, that Police has been allowed to directly access cellular user’s information; this includes our incoming and outgoing call details and information regarding SMS that we send and receive. I am not sure if Police can also access the content of calls (voice tapes), as it was not explicitly mentioned in any of news report.
If we consider crime rate, then this decision is going to help Police Department in ultimately reaching the culprits in quick time and with better accuracy, hence better results. Use of cell phone is a must do thing that criminals follow, meaning that they leave a very sound proof behind for police to catch them in minimum time.
But on other hands, as we know more and more government departments are now allowed to access cellular data directly, our very personal information is at risk. I don’t want to point out any single department, but I tend to decide or feel that my cellular record could be more secure and in safe hands if it was allowed to access through one point or one department.
I do not fear that these government institutes will access my information; instead my main concern is that now more individuals from our society (who have close references –friends/family - in these government departments) may also access my private data very easily.
I want to conclude here that there should be very strict and breach-less system to ensure that our cell phone records are safe and inaccessible to any un-authorized personal. Also want to add that its universal law that there should be lesser number of direct accesses to anything to make it more secure.
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Posted by: Bites85 on September 17, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Let’s welcome Bites85, yes Bites85 is going to be our fellow writer at ProPakistani.com. Bites85 is a Tech Addict from Islamabad, Pakistan. Following article has been contributed by him…! We hope to see more from him in coming days!
Google Inc., is the largest online company and the most successful ever. I personally like Google and its services a lot. Google is better than Yahoo, MSN and others in many ways, and they have proved themselves over the years that they are best. Main attribute of Google is its innovative yet free services like Gmail, Ad sense, Google Search,Google Earth and many more. Millions of people use Google services daily and are contented with the outcome.
A very important factor for Google’s success is its localization, and the ease it provides for people all over the world and for all religions. Google on every occasion changes its logo with beautiful and colorful fun doing logos to match the occasion. Whether its holiday season, Christmas, Olympics,independence day or any other occasion.
Google Pakistan is the Pakistani version which is also provided in Urdu. Google says that its peoples’ company, but one can easily doubt that. Let me show you some official Google Logo’s.
Chinese new year 2008 logo
First Hot Air Balloon 2008 logo
Florence Nightingale Google UK Logo 2008
Google Christmas Logo
Google Holiday Logo
Halloween 2007 Logo
Mark Chagall Birthday 2008 logo
Mothers Day 2008 Logo
Roald Dahl Birthday 2007 Logo
St. George day 2008 Logo
St. Patrick’s day 2007 logo
Thanksgiving 2007 logo
All these logo’s are certainly beautiful - but one thing is missing. Every year Google celebrates these occasions with a dedicated logo. But Google never celebrated Happy Ramadan to the Muslim community around the world. There are more than one billion Muslim’s around the world. But Google never showed its affection towards Muslim’s. If Christmas, St. Patrick’s day, St.George day and other days are so much important than i think Google should also celebrate Happy Ramadan or Eids etc. Many Muslim’s also work for Google.
But Google not a single year celebrated it. Ramadan is the most holiest month for the Muslims and same is the case with Eid. But Google never ever made a dedicated logo. It could have shown it on first on Ramadan. Also if Happy Ramadan logo was not possible, Google could have made a Happy Eid
logo. But never ever made it. Google could also have made a Ramadan and Eid logo for only the Muslim countries like just for the Google Pakistan.
So can it be said that Google is bias? Well i certainly think it is, that otherwise Google could have made a logo to celebrate for the Muslims. And i am hoping that we may see a Happy Eid Logo this coming Eid…!
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 14, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Banking transactions made over internet (known as E-Banking) are rapidly getting very common amongst businesses entities and masses in Pakistan. This was reflected in a recent report prepared by State Bank of Pakistan, which read that E-Banking has grown as high as 32 percent growth last year (2008).
This report that got published in print media today, said that, a total of 124.6 million e-banking transactions were recorded valuing Rs 13.9 trillion during the last fiscal year (2008), showing a growth of 25.4 percent in numbers and 32.3 percent in amount when compared with the fiscal year 2007.
This significant growth in e-banking is due to massive use of internet, especially high speed internet in Pakistan. Along with come the factors such as increasing number of free launce workers in the country who work for overseas companies tend to use E-Banking instead of paper banking. Furthermore, those who are living abroad are also increasingly interacting with their bank accounts back in Pakistan from internet.
We also see that E-Banking standards maintained by Pakistan banks are not bad; though some may have bad experiences, but largely, systems are stable and reliable. This reliability and benefits, such as, time saving with E-Banking are fetching more users by each passing day.
With this rise in E-Banking usage, there are certain restrictions too, such as daily and monthly transaction limits are insufficient; which actually hinders business entities and individuals to make E-Banking as their primary banking mode. Bankers say that this low limit is to increase security and allowing least chances for fraudulent activities, but on other hands, consumers require more luxury though with safety.
On the same note, I would like to see e-commerce activities in Pakistan. We see that E-Banking is already given good feedback, along with total number of credit and debit card holders reach 6.7 million, there is a dire need of E-Commerce infrastructure layout in the country, and that too in quick time.
More details on this report titled ‘Retail Payment Systems of Pakistan (paper-based and ebanking), are covered in following news item taken from Dawn’s edition of September 14, 2008.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 14, 2008 at 3:18 AM
We have previously learned, how to connect PC or Laptop with internet using Mobilink’s GPRS. Continuing the same series, today we will learn about connecting Desktop PC or Laptop with internet using Ufone’s GPRS, We know that Ufone offer unlimited GPRS plan for Rs. 600 (excluding taxes).
And if you are using standard GPRS plans (Rs. 15 + tax per MB), even then internet on Laptop/PC with Ufone’s GPRS can be handy, especially while you are on the go or when there is no other ineternet means.
NOTE: Please confirm GPRS pricing, before you use it with you PC//Laptop, otherwise your bill will hit its limit very quickly.
Using your mobile With Ufone Connection as a modem on Window XP
You can connect your mobile phone with your laptop by
1. Using infrared link
2. Using data cable
Before starting…
1. Subscription to GPRS is a prerequisite, (meaning that you must have GPRS active for your Ufone) make sure that you are subscribed to GPRS. To know how to subscribe to GPRS for your Ufone Number, click here
2. Make sure that you have installed your handset drivers on your desktop/laptop. These drivers come in the CD that was with Mobile Phone when you purchased it
3. In case of connecting through data cable, make sure the data cable is attached and the mobile is detected by the computer
4. Other way, you can also connect Via Infra Red. (not recommended) in this case confirm that the handset supports IR reception and same is available on your laptop
5. Now we assume that you have connected your phone with your Desktop PC or laptop. And device drivers are installed, and GPRS is active for your Ufone number…!
6. If you are done with these things, then you are ready to follow the rest of process…read on
Okay seems, now you have all necessary things with you in order to connect internet on PC/Laptop with help of Ufone GPRS. So keep on reading to complete the tutorial.
(Hey, don’t ask me that i didn’t mention handset, Ufone connection and a PC or Laptop; yea these are must have things, i know you are not dumb)
Step 1: Configuring your Phone Modem to use Internet: Go to the Control Panel and
Double click Phone and Modem Options
Once you double click on modems, Following window will appear..
1. Click on the Modems Tab on the top.
2. You will see a list of modems installed in your PC
3. Select the “GSM” phone Modem and click on properties (don’t worry if you see a different set of modems on this window. like you can have Samsung GSM Modem, Blackberry, Sony Ericsson W200 GSM etc.. the idea is to select your GSM modem for whatever phone you are using)
4. Now click on the Advanced Tab on the top.
Here you will see following Window
1. In the Extra initialization command field write the following string
2. After adding the command please Click ok and ok again.
String:
NOTE: Please do not copy paste the mentioned string, Only manual typing is required.
For Post Paid:
AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,“ufone.internet”;+CGQREQ=1,3,4,3,2,31;+CGQMIN=1,3,4,3,2,31
For Pre Paid
AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,“ufone.pinternet”;+CGQREQ=1,3,4,3,2,31;+CGQMIN=1,3,4,3,2,31
For U-Mail Account
AT+CGDCONT=1,”IP”,“umail.internet”;+CGQREQ=1,3,4,3,2,31;+CGQMIN=1,3,4,3,2,31
Note: Please note that don’t omit or add any spaces, commas, quotes or anything. type this string as it is..Now Press on Okay, save and close all windows
Step 2: Creating Dialup Connection
Now Again go into Control Panel, and make a new Dialup Connection
, by clicking on “Network Connections button”.
Follow other settings as shown in the figures below
In network Connection, click on Create a new connection
(this option is available in “Network Tasks” on top of left menu)
While clicking on “Create a new Connection” following windows will appear.
Simple press Next on first window
Select Connect to the internet
Click Next
Now following two windows will appear, select “Set up connection Mannualy” click next
In next window select “Connect to internet Using Dial-up Modem”…Click Next
Select your phone from the list of modems installed in your PC
, Click next
Give the connection any name of your liking
, Click Next
Phone number is: *99***1#
Click next
Leave both User name and Password blank
Uncheck “Make this the default internet connection” as the figure below shows,
Click Next
Click on finish…!
Until now, you have successfully added dial up connection, now lets connect this Laptop / PC with internet…!
Step 3: Connecting to internet
Go into “Network Connections” from Control Panel or Desktop, and click on Connection XYZ, that you just made
Simply press “Dial” and start enjoying internet browsing…! That’s it
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial. For feedback, or in case you are still facing problems in connecting to Internet with Your Ufone GPRS, let me know…!
Thanks
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