Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 18, 2008 at 5:15 PM
We have been seeing Mobilink losing customers in recent months, hence the revenues too, resultantly; the impact can be felt on overall performance of Orascom, the parent company of Mobilink.
Recently, Orascom Telecom (OTH) reported its 3rd quarter, 2008 profit of US$ 90.5 million - down by 28% compared to same period last year – while revenues reached US$1.37 billion in Q3 2008. Mobilink’s subscribers reached 31,359,049 mark out of 79,267,452 Orascom subscribers in 6 regions.
Mobilink reported ARPU of 2.9 $, lesser as compared to 3.9 $, same period last year. The decrease in ARPU in Pakistan is mainly due to the decreasing value of Pakistani Rupee against the US Dollar as well as rising inflation and an increase in sales tax which has further impacted consumers’ spends. Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 14, 2008 at 9:20 AM
All cellular companies, except Ufone, have collectively asked the government to reduce taxes on telecom services. In a collective letter, mobile phone companies have mentioned the government to reconsider increased GST, taxes on handsets and removal of SIM activation tax.
This was carried away after a significant decline in revenues and increased operational expenses of cellular companies. However, cellular companies are still awaiting any positive response from the government regarding this. Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Muhammad Ali Raza on November 10, 2008 at 12:01 PM
Cyber Crime law, that re-emerged few days back, in shape of presidential order (despite, there is a parliament available, I am unable to comprehend what urgency was there that President had to put forward this ordinance, anyway, its not part of our discussion), we need to fully understand this law. Because, it can be really very crucial for us, as the law have all the capabilities for trapping any one of us.
There are certain discussions going on over the technology forums, where Gurus are pointing out several aspects of cyber crime law, similarly, I wanted to put forward my opinion and observations as well.
The first thing after going through the draft of this ordinance, is that it is largely un-practicable – due to incompetence of our law enforcement agencies, and overall judicial structure. There are good chances, that lawyers never ever carried away any training or courses for getting familiar with internet and computer related criminal procedures.
Government of UAE can be taken as a good example, for instance, they never make anything a law until they can’t implement it. Because, making a law without any implementation or without availing the technology to get the rules implemented, just introducing a law makes no sense at all. Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 10, 2008 at 8:19 AM
Believe me, Pakistan’s Government is lot better than of many other states. At least we have got the liberty of using many mediums for our communications, unlike Iran, that has banned SMS service on all cell phones, throughout the country.
(NCR Iran) National Council of Resistance of Iran has reported that Organization of Communications Regulations has putout new laws imposing restrictions on sending SMS. For a typical cell owner, he has to go through security checks by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) to receive clearance for using the service – otherwise, no one will be able to send/receive SMS.
I purposefully praised Pakistan’s government, so govt chaps are not convinced to follow Iran here - as govt is fully geared this days, and we can expect them doing anything.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 7, 2008 at 5:16 AM
This news report that appeared in “Daily Times” today (November 7th, 2008) - appears to be another interesting outcome of Government; as this “Prevention of Electronic Crimes Ordinance” is effective from September 29, however, the government just got late in announcing it.
Don’t get worried, my readers, In fact this story is not for everyone, because it says death penalties to those only, who are involved in Terrorism act, being carried away through computers and internet. Furthermore, death penalty is limited to an offense that ‘Causes death of any person’. Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 27, 2008 at 2:42 AM
We had covered this Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) market review few months ago, however, changes take place in days now. As the energy crisis continue in Pakistan, in fact it has gone worse, people are again rushing towards UPS markets to get themselves electricity backups.
Thanks to winter, general people may not require UPS units as they did in hot summer, but businesses, students, and those who want to remain in tact with their electrical devices are in crucial situation due to unannounced and long run power failures.
Okay, I am covering only UPS market review, hopefully I will bring forward Generators’ market review as well in coming days, but lets focus on options and prices for UPS units in this article.
We saw two very significant things, one that UPS market is undergoing tremendous rush, and same is the case with prices. By the way, these prices went down in month of Ramadan (as there were no power outages then), but once again UPS businesses have gone high.
We noted that average cost of a Rs. 10,000 UPS has increased by almost 30 percent when compared to prices in May-June 2008. Retailers say this increment is due to the fact that manufacturers have increased prices of raw material on pretext of higher production cost due to higher imports of accessories.
A survey of retailers unveiled that UPS with a capacity of running two fans and two lights is hot item, and its sale has gone as high as 30 percent. It merits mentioning that this is least powered UPS available in the market, and is mostly used by small to mid sized shopkeepers and home users.
It merits mentioning here that there are two types of UPS available, imported ones and locally assembled. Retailers said that buyers prefer locally made UPS units for two reasons. 1 – They are inexpensive, 2 – Imported UPS units come with no warranty, hence more risk for buyers.
As the demand is increasing, there are more people getting involved in making of these local made UPS units. This retailer named, Hafiz Imran confirmed that there are tens of UPS manufacturing plants working in Rawalpindi. By the way, Daily Time lately reported that there are around 45 manufacturing units of UPS are working in the different parts of the Karachi only as cottage industry. The wholesalers have doubled their orders in order to meet the growing demand.
It was also reported that there comes lots bugs and after sale complains due to ordinary quality and unqualified technicians who make these UPS units in lesser time.
With UPS units, there come batteries, which are used with UPS units to keep your electrical devices alive – and scenario is not different of batteries as well, as prices have gone high here too.
So this is what the market has been undergoing, now check out these tips that you must consider before buying a UPS
Things to consider for Buying a UPS
- Try to put minimum load on UPS, that is don’t try to put all electrical devices on your UPS, instead make sure that only power critical devices are on UPS
- Once you have decided what items you will be running on UPS, calculate their power load. For this, don’t rely on UPS shops, instead ask for electrician in your colony and let him calculate the power load that you will be running on UPS. For instance, a computer with 17 inch monitor is likely to require 400 to 450 watts. Similarly, calculate your entire load and make sure what power do you require from this UPS.
- Go into main electrical markets of your city, instead of your corner electrical shop. Check around in couple of shops for the rates for the power your need. Let’s assume you need a UPS of 1000 Watts, then ask around what quotes you get.
- Please note that there are NO OFFICIAL RATES, so you will have to do little research to save you couple of thousand Rupees
- Please make sure that battery is nothing to do with your UPS. Your batteries will be responsible for backup time. So if you purchase a low ampere battery, it will give you lesser time and vice versa.
- Once your UPS is ready, make sure that it is giving output of exactly what you had asked for. For this purpose you can keep along your cousin or friend who knows a little about electrical meters, ask retailer (shopkeeper) to verify that this UPS is giving out proper voltages.
- If you are planning to use computer with this UPS, make sure that UPS unit supports it. For this direct the shopkeeper to make it computer complaint. (They make little configuration changes in your UPS, which prevents your Computer rebooting when electricity goes down.
Prices for UPS Units with Built in Dry Batteries
These UPS units come with built in Dry Batteries, and stabilizers. Means you get a once pack solution and simply take it home. But make sure that back-up duration for Buil in Dry Batteries’ UPS units is between 10 to 15 minutes only - Meaning that these are mainly for computers and for just saving your files and allowing you enough time to shut down your computer. (In case you need more backup time, then check for below given UPS prices that come without Batteries – and you can add up batteries to get more back up time)
Continue Reading This Story
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Posted by: Muhammad Ali Raza on October 23, 2008 at 2:50 AM
Few days ago, a friend of mine was looking around for someone’s mobile info; like he was interested in knowing his address details and some other basic information. Previously we had a combined friend in a Telecom company, so such little things were not big issues. However, now he is in Canada for a better job. Hence my friend asked me to figure out some way but I was left with no option. We kept on wondering about how to tackle this do or die situation.
After doing some research, I just found a very good way to find someone’s info. (I am sharing this to let you guys know how badly configured our online systems are, and how insecure our information is)
You can get someone’s name and city right? Its very easy, simply call helpline and plead a little, and they give away this info and its not hard part (I did this personally). Also name and city can be acquired by your cousin or cousin’s friend who is working in cellular company franchise. (Franchises can access to name and city of any number)
So now we have victim’s name and city and last name (last name is must here, as it is used to find address).
See, we can acquire complete details from this basic information, in fact you would be surprised that many online phone directories offer this very personal information like a duh!
I wonder, how this very private data of PTCL was stolen away, and above this, how daringly these websites are offering free online directories of this sensitive and private data. I am not promoting these website, but just wanted to share how insecure we are.
http://17.ptcl.net.pk/
check it out, PTCL’s online directory - taking advantage of such thing is not bad! Is it?
Here is magic string use it well boys
“http://17.ptcl.net.pk/subcsribeinfoResult.asp?txtname=NAME&txtadd=CITY&submit1=Search”.
Change NAME with the last name of victim - that we got from call center or franchise; while change NAME with city name.
Here you go, match your number with name and enjoy! There are good chances if name is rare one, as you will get less results for uncommon names. And in case of multiple results, and if you are not sure about your match, simply call the number from any PCO and act like TCS or DHL guy, and tell them “Sir we have a letter for you from XYZ bank, can you please confirm your address” you guys can give him same name address from that’s city he will confirm you this address, even if it was incorrect huh how much hard this was?
Lessons for us!
Please Immediately block all these services, as they are of no good. They are just used for ill means. Even, if there are some genuine inquires, they must be routed to PTCL’s helpline 1217, which should verify its legitimacy prior to revealing any details.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 22, 2008 at 12:52 PM
The Mobile Phone subscribers’ base in Pakistan has crossed 90 million mark as 640,624 subscribers were added in September 2008 at the monthly growth rate of 0.7 percent, which is slightly better than of August 2008.
Latest stats made public by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority for the month of September 2008, concludes that total number of subscribers in the country have reached 90.2 million mark, despite10.5 million blocked unregistered numbers - while mobile density now stands at 55.9 percent.
Following graph shows net addition/subtraction in customers for each cellular company.
Mobilink’s subscriber base continued its decline and fell to 31.35 million, resulting in a fall in market share to 34.8 percent. In contrast, Zong once again scored top position by adding 289,418 customers. Warid and Ufone remained very closed and added 213,219 and 209,891 customers respectively. Telenor added 156,268 customers in month of September 2008.
Mobilink continues to occupy the top slot with a market share of 34.8 percent, followed by Ufone (20.8 percent), Telenor (20.5 percent), Warid (17.9 percent) and Zong (5.6 percent).
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