Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 4, 2008 at 6:16 AM
Just a quick post to inform that after a little trial, Mobilink Infinity has again started charging Security fee of Rs. 2000 for 5 GB package and Rs. 2,500 for 15 GB package. This will make upfront cost at least Rs. 8,000 which may hinder most of home users (even small businesses) to get on board.
They had waived this Security deposit after launching this service, but soon they realized that security deposit can be handy with WiMAX that is undergoing uncertainty…in terms of services as well the as a technology.
We covered Mobilink Infinity’s launch and complete tariff here
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 29, 2008 at 7:07 AM
Wateen Telecom previously didn’t allow its customers to change their tariff plans, meaning that if you bought 1 MB plan then you will have to remain with this plan until you doesn’t quit this service.
But now, Wateen offers this option where customers can change their tariff plans by either upgrading or downgrading their bandwidth.
It merits mentioning here that Wateen has been converting all post-paid users to prepaid plans; also they are not offering any further post-paid subscriptions.
It was interesting to know that post-paid users who were converted to prepaid packages were put under highest priced telephone package; even though they were not even using the telephony service. So here is the chance for them to convert their tariff plan.
To change your Internet/Telephony package, you will have to visit Wateen’s franchise and ask them doing so.
This conversion of package is free, as told by Wateen’s CSR.
Via: PakGeeks
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 22, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Mobilink Infinity has commercially launched its WiMAX operations today (October 22, 2008), starting with Karachi. Its website is LIVE and says that they are offering services in Karachi only. covering only one city is not what Orascom is famous for. I am personally not convinced with their launch in only Karachi.
Tariff:
Mobilink revised their tariff from what they offered initially at soft launch. Major difference is that now download is capped at 5 GB a month or 15 GB a month (Previously it was unlimited). Also rates are taken little higher than of previous ones.
Soft Launch special rates were
256 kbps Unlimited: Rs. 799
512 kbps Unlimited: Rs. 999
1024 kbps Unlimited: Rs. 1199
(Thanks to Saad Ibrahim and Mudassar Ijaz for pointing out these rates)
Monthly rates seems good, but there is somethng very annoying at the bottom, the upfront payment of Rs. 10,000 which is too much i guess for home users (Security deposit of Rs. 2,000 is refundable though). From market feedback Mobilink Infinity has decided to cut short the upfront payment. Now its only Rs. 6.000.
When compared with Wateen, Monthly rental are good but Voice and Data packages are mandatory as of Wateen - Meaning that you must subscribe to voice as well as data package with Mobilink Infinity. It is like thrusting voice package, as not many will be interested in Voice (as per estimations).
Apart from pricing, services, response time, customer support, reliability and network uptime are other features that would come under consideration in the long run.
Want to Subscribe to Mobilink Infinity?
Updates to come in coming days regaring service feedback
For Service review during Soft Launch: Click Here
For Mobilink Infinity Network history: Click here
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 16, 2008 at 11:19 AM
There is this rumor that Telenor Pakistan is going to launch its WiMAX operations in Pakistan, or they are at least, very keenly studying the WiMAX market.
Thetechturtle has come up with this news citing an insider that Telenor’s WiMAX launch is expected first quarter next year.
I know one thing for sure that Telenor has spent a huge amount of time working on the R&D for this project. The first I came to know about Telenor coming up with WiMAX was in December 2006, when Wateen was preparing to give out user trials in Lahore. The word at the time was that there were 5 people working on the project and it was so hush that the employees who were working on the project research had to sign an oath declaring that if they spoke a word of it to anyone, they will be promptly fired.
However, Telenor Pakistan’s spokesman firmly denied any such launch, and said “Telenor Pakistan currently has no plans to launch WiMAX Operations in Pakistan.”
I am not sure if WiMAX business is Pakistan’s next catch, instead of faster mobile internet. But keeping in view, many unsatisfied customers from Wateen and Mobilink yet to make an impression… investment Giant like Telenor can play some good game.
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Posted by: Muhammad Ali Raza on October 7, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Let’s welcome Mohammad Ali Raza, who has joined ProPakistani as a writer. Ali is a security expert, and keenly eyes and manages security for countless web applications for Europian and US companies.
These days, I am facing tons of troubles, like many of you, while using internet. This is due to the reason that my broadband service provider, including other very well reputed ISPs (Internet Service Provider) are not doing there jobs like they are supposed to offer quality and in-expensive service and freedom.
By freedom I mean these ISPs block various ports, hence people like me who frequently use port forwarding face issues.
When your internet goes down, you normally call them – and they come up with same story “Sir we are working on the issue or we are upgrading our system” etc, I suppose they lie on this!
Problem with these type service providers is that they don’t have good man power - they don’t pay good salaries to their employees and eventually their customers suffer.
Some months back my broadband service provider was down when I had suggested them cleanup their virus, on which they replied “Sir we have experts, who are working on this” – and you will be amazed to know that they we saw internet blackout for 2 week before their debugged the issue. This service provider was Fariya, well known service provider in Gulshan area Karachi. This issue was caused by a worm that attacked Domain Name System (DNS) configuration. I have seen other service providers like CITY, WCN, Multi-Net etc, facing same worm attack, and they too remained down for good amount of time.
Small service provider are good and in-expensive then bigger ones out there, they ask you less but give you freedom to do what ever you want like they don’t block torrents p2p other applications and some sites, I didn’t mean about porn here like big companies have porn filter but my 14 years brother can bypass those poor filter which cost broadband people a lot of $$$.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 7, 2008 at 2:29 PM
We had reported back in May 2008 that Wi-Tribe is planning to enter into WiMAX market in Pakistan, after Wateen and Mobilink. Now after Motorola has signed a multi-year WiMAX contract with wi-tribe Pakistan limited, Wi-Tribe seems set ready for a the all-new wireless broadband Internet provider to enter the Pakistan.
Motorola says that it will supply infrastructure and a comprehensive services package that will enable wireless broadband services for wi-tribe’s customers.
It merits mentioning here that wi-tribe Pakistan Limited is a joint venture between Qatar Telecom (Qtel) and Saudi Arabia’s A.A. Turki Group of Companies (ATCO). wi-tribe is also aiming to deliver instant wireless broadband connectivity from North Africa across the Middle East and up to Asia (AMESA region).
In a wi-tribe statement issued from Islamabad, Mohammad Sadiq, CEO of wi-tribe Pakistan limited said that WiMAX is changing the way people are connecting and is opening doors to a new world of opportunities, “We will be offering high-speed Internet that is simple, affordable, and a portable alternative to fixed broadband”, added Mr. Sadiq.
While on other hands, Mr. Ali Amer, Vice President Sales, Middle East, Africa and Pakistan, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility, at the signing ceremony said “WiMAX will become a driving force in Pakistan. This is why Motorola stands at the forefront of such an important industry standard that enables progressive service providers such as wi-tribe to launch high-speed, rich, yet affordable communications services.”
It is learned that Motorola will straight away begin deploying wi-tribe’s WiMAX network from October 2008 in the 3.5GHz spectrum. Commercial launch is expected during 2009.
Motorola will supply award-winning equipment from its WiMAX portfolio including the WAP 400 WiMAX access point, which features diversity MIMO antenna capabilities to enable strong indoor penetration.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 6, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Yesterday i got this message in an email from one of my reader from Rawalpindi. He requested me to not to publish his name. I am pasting below his email… Wateen Guys are requested to act immediately on this email.
Hello Everybody,
I am a student, and living away from my home town in a private hostel in Rawalpindi. I am using Wateen’s WiMAX services for my internet means. Last month, unfortunately I was short of money and at the same time my Wateen’s connection was going to expire on August 28, 2008. I had no other option but to pay my bill though credit card.
For the purpose, I visited Wateen’s Franchises in Rawalpindi at Satellite Town and Mall Road, but to my surprise both do not accept payments through credit card. I requested them that I do not have cash at the moment, so kindly transact my billing amount from credit card from neighboring shops, but they straight away denied. In fact they started ignoring my pleas, and started looking at me like they were saying “Get out from here…or”
I want to request telecom companies, especially Wateen Telecom to kindly direct your franchise holders to install credit card punch machines at their offices, so that if some one like me or those who do not carry cash with them can pay their bills from their credit cards. This is very ordinary service now a days and almost every other shop is offering this.
Thank You!
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 21, 2008 at 7:40 AM
At last wateen has come up with an online usage and bill tracking system that will help customers to keep an eye on their bandwidth usage and remaining balance in their account. Wateen’s WiMAX (prepaid) users had been facing their service disconnections when they used to reach their allowed quota.
To Access Wateen’s Self Care Portal Click Here
Don’t worry if you see an IP address in URL instead of Wateen.com, i have confirmed from their support that this is a legitimate service by Wateen Telecom. However, you may find several functions disabled due to early launch (this is what CSR told me)
Wateen’s Self Care Portal will help you to
- Get your current Service Information, that is your current package, tariffs, and other account details
- Save your favorite links
- Check your remaining balance
- Check your Internet Usage in current month, while providing you details about how much data has been used out of the allowed quota
- Information about last 5 Internet sessions –
- Information about your last 5 voice calls that you made
- You can set an Email Notification when your account balance reaches a limit (set by you)
[Via eBloggy]
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