Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 8, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Google has announced added security features for Gmail that will enable its users to find out if their Gmail account is logged in at any other computer or not. For example, if you checked your Gmail account at your campus library and you moved away without signing out of your account then you may find this new feature very handy through which you can sign out of your Google account from that computer even remotely from your home.
Additionally, you can track your recent sessions, IP addresses of recent sessions and ability to signout of any previous open sessions remotely.
Google is saying that they are in process of integrating this feature in Gmail’s latest version, and will be online soon.
At the bottom of your inbox, you’ll see information about the time of the last activity on your account and whether it’s still open in another location:
You will be allowed to see more details about your recent activity by clicking on the Details link.
Email
No Comments
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 8, 2008 at 6:42 AM
Pakistan has seen lots of development going on in banking sector in previous decade, with many new banks emerging into scene and offering quality services. They have not only bettered our life standards but also given us more opportunities to expand our businesses locally and globally. Even then, we are still lacking behind when it comes to standards set by developed countries, with missing elements such as e-commerce and mobile commerce.
Corporate entities in Pakistan are well aware of the importance of new era commerce solutions; that is why 
Mobilink has come up with Mobile Commerce also termed as mCommerce with its brand name of Mobilink Genie.
In this post we will discuss what Mobilink Genie is? Its benefits and how it is activated on your Mobilink connection.
What is Mobilink Genie
Introduced back in December 2007 by Mobilink CEO, Zuhair A. Khalique, Mobilink Genie was marketed as a mobile commerce solution to pay utility bills, buying scratch cards and doing other light weight commerce activates through mobile phone.
Mobilink Genie, through a secure process, ties your Credit Card and Bank Account to your Mobilink connection. Hence, allowing you to use your supported credit card or debit account with your mobile phone to pay bills. Unfortunately, you can not shop with Mobilink Genie; however, we may innovations in this in coming months.
Mobilink Genie Charges
- Free introductory offer for all Mobilink customers.
- Application download: Standard GPRS charges apply. (Rs. 18/- per MB for prepaid – for postpaid as per package plan)
- Standard SMS rates apply to all SMS sent to 1610.
- Data Usage: Standard GPRS charges apply. (Rs. 18/- per MB for prepaid – for postpaid as per package plan)
- Utility bill payments will have a service fee of Rs. 20/-
How to Activate Mobilink Genie on your phone?
As it’s clear, this service is for only Mobilink customers (both prepaid and postpaid ones), so get yourself ready for a step by step guide for activating Mobilink Genie.
Getting Prepared; what will you need?
Mobilink Genie is a JAVA application that is installed in your mobile phone. So obviously you will require a handset that supports third party JAVA applications (see here the list of supported phones) and that has GPRS/EDGE enabled on it.
So make sure that
- Your mobile Phone has GRPS enabled on it
- Support Java applications.
- You should have an active Mobilink connection, Jazz or Indigo
- You should have account in one of following banks…This list will grow with time, but currently they are
- CityBank Pakistan
- KASB Bank
- Atlas Bank
So you have got all these 3 things? Great, so now you are ready to move to next step that includes subscribing to Mobilink Genie account.
Subscribing to Mobilink Genie
You will have to subscribe to Mobilink Genie, be careful during this, as the process is very delicate and involves exact procedures to be followed. Process is different for both Indigo and Jazz users, so follow the below steps as per your package type.
For Indigo (postpaid) Users
If you have Indigo connection, then
- Send an SMS with Complete name to 1610 (Aamir Attaa-> send to 1610)
- You will shortly receive a reply informing you of your new Genie Login and Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a URL for JAVA application to download.
- When you receive your login information, Genie service charges are deducted and billed to you. These charges will be added to your monthly indigo bills
- So here you have subscribed to Mobilink Genie, now you need to integrate your Credit Card and banking info with Your Mobilink Connection. Please follow next step for this.
Continue Reading This Story
Email
5 Comments
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 7, 2008 at 7:53 PM
As many of us are tired of these SPAM calls, i had discussed before some tricks and other ways to block unwanted calls, but here is a good news for Ufone users, who can now block any number (on-net, off-net, Landline Number and even international numbers)to call them.
Ufone has done this great job only for prepaid users. Ufone postpaid users can’t avail this service. Anyway, for those who are interested in availing this service you might find below information helpful.
How to activate Ufone Call Block Service
- Dial 420 from your Ufone number
- Press 1 to view the list of blocked callers
- Press 2 to add number to your blocked list
- Press 3 to delete number from your blocked list
- Press 4 to deactivate the service
- You can add Any number of any Network in your call blocked list
- You can add maximum of 20 numbers at one time in list of Blocked callers
- But you can remove one number and add another by following the up-mentioned method.
Charges for Ufone Call Block Service
Once acticated, Ufone will charge you Rs. 9.99 per month, that quite good price for such a good service.
What Message the Blocked caller will listen
When a caller who is blocked in your list will call you, he will listen an automated voice “Your dialed number is not reciving your call” or “App ka matloba number call mousool nahi kar raha”
This service shows that how PTA has failed to prevent SPAM calling in the country, despite of regulation, procedures and support they have with them. So Ufone guys, thats a good chance for you to increase your privacy, happy calling.
Email
8 Comments
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 3, 2008 at 4:52 PM
Mobilink, last month, kicked off the war with Jazz one, Telenor responded with A One; however both were defeated by Ufone’s Uwon. And now Zong feeling the heat and joining the club with 8 Anay per Call offer.
Two things are seen common amongst all cellular companies; they are attacking each other…and at the same time deceiving their customers through un-clear advertising campaigns and claiming their packages as best one.
Let’s look at the print ad and try to solve the equation, regarding what actually the pricing would be for this package….
- Regular Rate: 75 Paisa per 30 Second
- FnF Number: 50 Paisa per 30 Second
- How to Activate Package: Call 907, an automated voice will guide you through the process (here you will be asked to enter one FnF number)
Check points:
- AD says 40 Paisas for first minute will be charged; for God Sake your pulse rate is 30 second, how can you communicate additional charges per minute? Yes they are charged for first 30 seconds, if you hang the call in 20 seconds that will cost you 50+40=90 paisa + taxes
- You can select only one FnF number from any cellular network, while the advertisement clearly stats “Koi bhi Number, Koi bhi Network, Sirf 50 Paisay per 30 Seconds”. I am not sure how many but at least million customers will be negatively affected by this.
- FnF number modification: No Information on Print AD, but their website says, Addition/ Modification of FnF will charge you PKR 15 + Tax. How many of Zong customers visit their websites? A 8 x 2 advertisement could be filled with complete information.
- Only numbers of Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, Warid, and Instaphone can be added for this offer, means you can’t add Zong Numbers….
I am feeling pity on our country and our nation who are misguided every other day, and none of us can take these looters to court.
I just called this “Network for Consumer Protection”, and asked them if there is any good way to bug these cellular companies for ambiguous un-ethical advertisements, but the lady there told that there is no advertising law in Pakistan. She confirmed that there are some code of conduct saved by PEMRA or PTV but that’s scattered. I was shocked to learn that we have no code of conduct for advertising for print media; that’s due to the interest of APNS, that they are more of concerned with the money they are getting from advertisers.
I was told that there is a Consumer Protection Court in Rawalpindi, but at the same time, that court is just for the sake of formalities. It does nothing…!
See below what is being followed in US
Unfair methods of competition in or affecting commerce, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, are hereby declared unlawful - Section 12 of the act makes it unlawful to disseminate any false advertisement for “foods, drugs, devices, services, or cosmetics.” - Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a).
I remember an American parents sued a Washing Machine Manufacturer for not exclusively mentioning that their washing machines are dangerous for children under 7. Their 3 years old kid was killed when he jumped into machine tub. And interestingly, the couple had won the law suite.
But tell me where should i go to ask for justice in Pakistan?
I am sorry if I am hurting any one, but Pakistan is a jungle not a country, where any one can come and loot you! Bullshit
Email
7 Comments
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 2, 2008 at 1:19 PM
Mobilink, second WiMAX service provider of Pakistan, has finally hit the WiMAX surface by introducing its services in Karachi in its first phase of countrywide rollout plan.
Uzair Ahmed broke the story on TGP backed with two official documents that reveal Mobilink’s WiMAX services, pricing and few other details. Named as Mobilink Infinity, WiMAX services would be offered in Karachi only, as a soft launch, until they are successfully tested and taken to other regions of Pakistan as well.
Their official webpage is not displaying anything yet. Also the news is missing in main stream electronic and print media. But there are couple of evidenced on fellow blogs, that confirm the existence of Mobilink Infinity.
Let’s look into tariff details before going into further details…!
- Free Installation is for customers subscribing before September 30, 2008
- Unlimited Internet Access
- Free calls to All Mobilink Infinity and Mobilink GSM Users (for limited Time)
Well prices look stunning, they are far better than any other broadband service provider in Pakistan. Mobilink Infinity has broken the PKR 2,000 barrier for 1 Mbps link (unmetered) that was being offered by LinkDotNet, PTCL and other ISPs, and taken it down to just PKR 1,199; not only this, the package comes with VoIP privileges, and that too with Free calls from WiMax (Infinity) to WiMax (Infinity) and on any Mobilink GSM Subscribers (Defiantly a limited time offer), but this a treat.
But hold on, there is a bad news! With Mobilink Infinity you will have to pay almost PKR 16,000 for installation equipment (CPE) and security. However, for promotional period, this first time payment is lessened to PKR 8,000. Home users may not like to pay this huge amount. Other wise things seemed so well.
Considering the 1 Mpbs pricing, they could have taken 512 Kbps package down to PKR 500 to meet most in-expensive internet available in the world. But PKR 999 is not bad too!
Apart from pricing, services, response time, customer support, reliability and network uptime are other features that would come under consideration in the long run. We know that WiMAX is an evolving technology; hence, like any voice/data network, we should expect issues earlier on, but once streamlined, Mobilink Infinity is going to give tough time to not only Wateen but other broadband service providers too.
Wateen Telecom must be eying the situation very closely, and may revise their packages immediately. Currently they are offering capped packaged with limited download/upload capacity.
I see lot of potential in WiMAX market in Pakistan, specifically when we see than Wateen has acquired 25,000 customers in a short span of time, we will have to see in coming months, what Mobilink Infinity is going to do, which is apparently lot better than of Wateen in terms of monthly rental and coverage.
Mobilink will have to invest some money by subsidizing the WiMAX equipment (which is going to cost a user PKR 16,000), if they really want to get some good subscriber base.
Email
16 Comments
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 1, 2008 at 7:06 PM
After almost a month, Ufone has geared up to beat Mobilink’s Jazz One and Telenor’s A One Package while offering a flat rate of Rs. 1 Per minute on all on-net calls and Rs. 1.60 on off net calls.
Ufone’s official webpage reads like this
Whether it’s your first minute or last, with Ufone Uwon package talk for only Rs.1.00/minute to any Ufone number and only Rs.1.60/minute to any other number. Activate Ufone Uwon package today and take advantage of the lowest per minute call rates to all networks in Pakistan.
How to Convert to Uwon Package
To activate the package dial 444 from your Ufone, and follow the automated voice to subscribe to this package.
Check points
- There are no charges for converting your package plan to Uwon
- All Charges are exclusive of Tax
- Ucircle is not available with this offer
- This is limited time offer
Email
3 Comments
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 1, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Data Services on wireless (GSM) devices have started getting response from Pakistani consumers. Text Messages (SMSes) in particular have experienced tremendous growth in the recent months; when we look at number of text messages exchanged by Pakistani cellular users, it is clearly indicating the growth rate hitting as high as 30 percent mark.
PTA’s recent quarterly report says that Pakistanis, on average, exchanged 68.51 Million text messages per day during January-March 2008; that’s something very mind-blowing with 85 million users in the country, but our history says that we have never sent/received this much text messages before.
When we peek into reasons for this growth, one can easily term SMS Packages (that offer very low priced Unlimited SMS on any network) the sole responsible for it. However, other things that supported this growth may also include the political situation of the country, which evolved the idea of SMS based political campaigns during and after elections. Not only this, we saw SMS coming into play after November 3, 2007, during imposition of Emergency in Pakistan for exchanging news and ideas, while the electronic media was capped by the Musharraf Government then.
Increased awareness in Pakistani telco users can also be seen as a factor that boosted the usage of SMS. Using mobile phones for last few years, now we are getting familiar with mobile devices and their functionality. Now most of us can at least read/understand a text message. Cellular operators can further make the process easy by introducing (English to Urdu) translation services for SMS messages. Qtel has successfully launched such a service for its subscribers in Qatar.
Along with SMS, GPRS backed internet on cellular phone is also getting momentum. Specifically, the unlimited GPRS and hourly based internet packages by Zong are causing more customers to get them equipped with internet while on the go.
.
In this given scenario, we may expect acceptance of 3G services in Pakistan, given that prices are kept affordable. It must be noted that in developed countries text messages are loosing popularity when compared to email and IM.
Email
No Comments
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 1, 2008 at 12:29 PM
A Press Release posted by APP claims that PTCL has revised it local call timing pulse of 2 minute to 3 minutes. Which means that the local call tariff on PTCL landline phones of PKR 2 for two minutes has been changed to PKR 2 for three minutes.This tariff will be in effect from July 1, 2008.
Press Release says that this improved package comes along with promotion that started on June 01, 2008 through which PTCL subscribers are already enjoying free local calls at night.
This move may relieve PTCL customers a bit, but they are not in good trends after getting tons of benefits from cellular companies.
The main discussion that i wanted to get into was if PTCL is now in a phase where it is worrying to acquire and retain its landline customers? The answer is, most probably yes they are! Well there is no doubt that all landline operators, globally, are facing tough competition from wireless communication providers. The scenario in Pakistan is not different, specially with the emergence of WiMAX broadband service providers coming into play, a landline number is not considered as a must have thing for high speed DSL.
After PTCL was acquired by Etisalat, the company failed to leave a positive impression through repetetive attacks on the consumers (Babar Bhatti has summed up the miseries of PTCL customers here). But we have been witnessing a change in company’s mood for last couple of months, as far as the consumers are concerned. This change reflects a thought that company is now trying to show/pretend a positive aptitude towards the customers.
PTCL management would also be eying their dropping revenues and increasing operating expenses. In such a situation, we may see couple of hefty moves from landline giant of Pakistan. Possible moves can be free landline call on a smooth but increased monthly rental.
In any case, they will have to carry their postitive business plans in future too, to relieve the customer and saving their revenues (without decieving custumers) at the same time as well.
[Graphs are carried from PTA's Quarterly Report for Jan-Mar 2008]
Email
4 Comments
Loading ...