Posted by: Aamir Attaa on August 16, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Cellular companies of Pakistan are facing some tough time inside, as reported by an inside official of a cellular company. They are apparently facing bunch of problems in parallel. These problems are making Think Tanks to decisively operate their minds and bring the lost glory of mobile phone companies.
Mobilink is worst hit of current situation, as opinioned by an telecom analyst that I spoke with. He was actually backed by some facts and the ground realities to support his voice. He said that Mobilink is planning to reshape their policies and strategies to tackle the situation created. That is maybe the reason that Mobilink has gone in passive mode in terms of announcing new Value Added Services and/or any packages (that they used to do every other week). It merits mentioning that latest major activity from Mobilink was back in June’s first week. (however, they launched couple of CSR campagns that included launch of Zeb and Hanya’s album and a Movie that they sponsored). Mobilink is specifically running corporate advertisements on TV channels to keep itself alive, otherwise there is nothing new from them for last couple of months.
Same is the case with Ufone, besides couple of new Value Added Services; they are advertising Uwon for last 6 weeks now. Warid and Telenor are also the effectives. I was eagerly waiting for August 14th, 2008 where I was expecting any special offer from cellular companies or the PTCL regarding our Independence Day, but the day ended with nothing much than just a deceiving package from Warid and the patriotic advertisements.
This quietness by cellular companies can be termed as the bread limit of their tariff plans that they have reached. But the decrement in Sales is still a question mark (given that we have not reached the saturation level in terms of cellular subscribers)
There can be possibly at least 3 major reasons that have pulled down the growth and to some extent the revenues’ graph for cellular companies substantially.
1 – Severe Regulatory Campaign: We have seen Pakistan Telecommunication very active in recent months, after the pressure was exerted from Senate’s Standing Committee to cap sale of illegal SIMs. These actions by PTA (which includes warning to cellular companies, blocking of illegal SIMs, raid on Franchises and Retail Shops) have affected the sale and consequently the growth of companies’ subscribers.
2 – Increased Taxes on Telecom Services: Cellular companies are also not happy with the increment in taxes on Telecom services. Increases taxes have taken up the pricing by almost 6 percent, which has brought down the calling ratio by at least 8-9 percent. Increment in taxes on Mobile Phones has also hindered the way to healthy revenues for cellular companies
3 – Emergence of Zong: Introduction of a new cellular company always works a speed breaker for already operating companies. Zong, which actually did well with their launch acted as hand break on cellular companies’ speed. However, this impact may not last long, but when it was coupled with other two factors; Zong appeared as a negative effect on other cellular companies.
As discussed above, policy makers have joined their head, to think out what possible goodies they can do for their investors in order to hike their revenues and stock values. For the purpose, downsizing can be one of the options in their minds…!
These tightening revnues may cause telcos to use other illegal means of genrating revenues, such as using illegal voice termination (by the way Garmeen Phone of Telenor has done this in Bangladesh). Along with Upcoming 3G license auction is going to cause them spend more money to maintain their name in the market.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on August 10, 2008 at 7:14 AM
Orascom owned, World Online (WOL) has stepped forward by offering internet hours to be purchased by sending an SMS for Mobilink and Warid customers (Both Prepaid and Postpaid customers). WOL says that objective of this service is to provide utmost convenience and instant access to the Internet at any time of the day or night.
Mobilink customers get an edge, as they are offered Internet hours at Rs. 2 per hour, however, Warid customers would be disappointed with the service, rate is Rs. 10 per hour for Warid Customers.
For Mobilink Customers (Prepaid and Postpaid)
To get the Internet hours, you need to send an SMS from your Mobilink number.
For 4 Internet Hours: Type 10 and send an SMS to 965 (Rs. 10 will be charged)
For 8 Internet Hours: Type 20 and send an SMS to 965 (Rs. 20 will be charged)
For 25 Internet Hours: Type 50 and send an SMS to 965 (Rs. 50 will be charged)
You will receive an auto generated SMS for confirmation, reply it with “Yes” and you will get WOL Internet login and password instantly in response.
Kindly ensure to dial WOL UIN 13131313 through your complete login and password.
Note: these Internet hours will be charged from Mobilink monthly bill in case of postpaid subscribers and will be directly deducted from the balance in case of prepaid subscribers.
For Warid Customers (Prepaid and Postpaid)
To get the Internet hours, you need to send an SMS from your Warid number.
For 1 Internet Hour: Type WOL and send an SMS to 1310 (Rs. 10 will be charged)
For 2 Internet Hours: Type WOL and send an SMS to 1320 (Rs. 20 will be charged)
For 5.5 Internet Hours: Type WOL and send an SMS to 1350 (Rs. 50 will be charged)
You will receive an auto generated SMS for confirmation, reply it with “Yes” and you will get WOL Internet login and password instantly in response.
Kindly ensure to dial WOL UIN 13131313 through your complete login and password.
Note: these Internet hours will be charged from Warid monthly bill in case of postpaid subscribers and will be directly deducted from the balance in case of prepaid subscribers.
for More Information call: 042-111-600-111
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 23, 2008 at 1:59 PM
In this tutorial we will learn how to connect our PC / Laptop with internet using Mobilink’s GPRS. This method can be used for any handset (Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Blackberry etc) and for both Prepaid Jazz and Postpaid Indigo Number. So let’s start straight away.
Note: I will bring tutorials for Ufone, Telenor, Zong and Warid Too, in coming couple of Weeks…!
Getting Ready
You must be equipped with following items, in order to connect your PC or Laptop with Mobilink’s GPRS
- Make sure that you have device drivers of your phone. Otherwise you won’t be able to connect your PC/Laptop with internet. This driver can be found in a CD that comes with your handset’s pack. Make sure that you have installed the handset driver on your PC (Please ask help in comments below if you having problems with driver installation, but remember, i will not provide any driver for any handset)
- Assuming that your Handset driver is installed on your PC, now make sure that your GPRS is activated on your Mobilink Jazz/Indigo numbers. If not then call your helpline and get it activated.
- Please remember that connecting to internet through PC consumes high bandwidth, so make sure that you have unlimited GPRS package activated on your Mobilink Indigo Numbers (that comes at Rs. 500 per month). Mobilink Jazz Customers note that you will be charges at Rs. 15 per MB, so be carefull while your are using GPRS on your Jazz Numbers
Okay seems, now you have all necessary things with you in order to connect internet on PC/Laptop with help of Mobilink GPRS. So keep on reading to complete the tutorial.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 20, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Mobilink has aided Zeb and Hanya to launch their debut Rock/Pop Album, named as “Chup”. Album was launched in a Press Confrence on July 19, 2008.
To read more about Zeb & Hanya visit their official website Website
Download Top Tracks of “Chup” (Right Click and Select “Save Target As”)
For “Chu” Ringtones and Mobitunes Click here
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 18, 2008 at 2:30 PM
We have started receiving early input on TGP from those who have experienced Mobilink Infinity WiMAX services. Like any other data network, Mobilink is reportedly suffering with the services issues.
It has been told that services are not smooth for both the data and voice. Moreover, disconnections and downtimes in specific are causing real troubles to those customers who are using Mobilink WiMAX as their primary source to internet.
ZyXel’s CPE (Customer premises equipment) are being used and you won’t be given CPE password, so there is no option that you can configure router for port mapping/ port forwarding.
VoIP service that comes in by default with Mobilink’s WiMAX is also in the range of bad remarks from customers. Again VoIP services face disconnections along with opinions about ordinary incoming calls facility.
The only good thing people have told is the customer service, which has been remarkably helping Mobilink Infinity clients to somewhat compensate the bad quality of service.
This input is based on very few experiences, and may not reflect the actual picture; however, we should expect better services as the network gets mature.
On other hands, as we had in our minds at time of Mobilink infinity’s launch, they may not over shine Wateen very easily, which has its existence in over 2 dozen cities of Pakistan.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 12, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Don’t get shocked, this was just a rumor, and industry insiders have denied this news in any case. However, TheTechthurtle today morning claimed that UK based Vodafone and Orascom have closed a deal to sell 26% shares of Pakistan’s largest cellular company Mobilink to Vodafone. Blog, without citing any source, claims that both the companies were in talks for quite some time now, however, the deal was closed recently. No words were said regarding the value of deal; hence the total value of Mobilink is still unknown.
It was said that Vodafone had been seeking its chance to enter Pakistani cellular market to further strengthen its regional existence for last three years and at the same time Mobilink was eying any investor to share the investment injection.
TheTechthurtle writes that Vodafone has already setup their office in Islamabad since 2006 and living a life of anonymity.
Vodafone owns cellular operations in 20 countries globally. And the trend observed is that they enjoy sole ownership of companies. They have 52 percent as their least number of shares in any network in India. If the rumor is true then it can be depicted that Vodafone may have asked Mobilink for at least 50 percent shares. In another scenario, Waird has been enjoying 30 percent sleeping partner, Singtel. But Vodafone has got an attitude to rule independently, like we saw in India; they rebranded Hutch throughout India in a campagn called as World’s largest rebranding
Another rumor was spread in the same post, that Orascom’s Internet wing, Link Dot Net, was also in talks with another UK telco Orange to sell it partial shares. Blogger writes that Link Dot Net is in serious trouble due to their weak infrastructure and poor planning.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 11, 2008 at 7:10 AM
Previously it was reported that Warid Telecom’s 2 employees were kidnapped from Lakki Marwat (who are not recovered yet) and now, sadly, a Mobilink engineer was kidnapped from Bajaur by unknown persons.
A news item reported in ‘Frontier Post’ today claimed that a Supervisor of Mobilink was taken away by some unknown persons from Tang Khatta area, while quoting an Assistant Political Agent Khar, headquarters of Bajaur Agency. Mr. Anwar Khan, supervisor of Mobilink was kidnapped while he was on his way to Khar for repair of mobile tower.
Government must come into action in this scenario, where multinational companies are directly involved. Security is one of many reasons that are hindering FDI flowing into country.
On other hands, through a friend I have come to know that Talibans have emailed high officials of cellular companies, asking them to bound their employees to wear Shalwaar Qameez on Friday and that the ladies must not work in mobile companies. Other wise….
I will try to get that email from a friend who in Ufone, and will present that here for my readers.
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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.
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Same is the case with Ufone, besides couple of new Value Added Services; they are advertising Uwon for last 6 weeks now. Warid and Telenor are also the effectives. I was eagerly waiting for August 14th, 2008 where I was expecting any special offer from cellular companies or the PTCL regarding our Independence Day, but the day ended with nothing much than just a deceiving package from Warid and the patriotic advertisements.
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