How Zong Became a Success Story!

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 3, 2008 at 5:35 AM

“Chinese will manage Pakistan’s market, and they will outplay everyone… They know how to get it”, I was told this by Mr. Frederic Rose, President then, Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Alcatel-Lucent’s flagship company in China. He was here in Islamabad to sign one billion dollars network expansion contract assigned to Alcatel-Lucent by China Mobile, which had recently acquired Paktel.

He replied me up given line when I had asked him that Pakistan’s market is already well saturated, how come a cellular company starting from scratch will be able to compete with Giants like Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, Warid… given that, all these four companies bear very strong financial background, as well expertise of running GSM networks in multiple regions.

I am wondering now that how true Mr. Rose was. Yes, China Mobile has proven itself as a brand now, and it looks like they are going to give tough time to other cellular companies in coming days.

The hardest part for China Mobile was to rebuild the image that had been lost by Paktel; often we see, it’s easy to make a new building, than of restructuring a damaged one.

Launch

I was discussing this success of Zong with Babar Bhatti, who was kind enough to give me time before leaving for US tomorrow, and he rightly spotted that China Mobile didn’t rush in launching its brand. Zong took its full time in preparation and came up with a very powerful launch campaign, though we found that campaign as copied one, but until then it had left its impact on Pakistanis. Continue Reading This Story

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Breaking: Free Calls Due to Server Error on Zong

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on November 1, 2008 at 2:51 PM

We have been notified by our readers (self tested as well) that there is a server crash on Zong’s end - hence Zong users are making free calls to any number, yes international numbers too, for free…!

We have notified Zong’s administration about this. Hopefully issue will get resolved soon.

Meanwhile you can enjoy free calls… but make sure that you have no balance in your SIM to avoid balance drop, as this error will get rectified any time.

Update: Issue has been rectified, and lucky Zong Users made free calls during past 50 minutes.

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24 Hours Free Call for 1 Zong to Zong Number

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 25, 2008 at 7:19 AM

Yea, that’s true… you can call one Zong number unlimited calls 24×7 - but there is monthly rental of Rs. 500 plus tax. Despite the monthly subscription fee, this offer gonna rock.

Now there is a clear reason for the success of Zong… that it offers a package for each segment of users. If you are SMS addict, there is an option, incase you love GPRS, there is per hour Internet offer; you name your requirment and Zong has its solution for you. Though other companies are following the same lines, but Sales’ stats say Zong is outperforming them.

Getting back to this particular offer, 24 Hours free call at 1 Zong Number is available for “Zong Free Package” (This is name of the package). If you are not on Zong Free Package, then check below the process of converting your number to Zong Free Package

How to convert Package

Its simple, dial 908 and select your desired package. You can call the same number, that is 908, and select your one favorite number for 24 Hours Free Calls.

Another way is to send an SMS “Sub<Space>free<Space><Mobile Number>” and send it to 908.

Pricing (All Prices are including Taxes and are for 60 Seconds)

Monthly Subscription free of Rs. 500+105 = Rs. 605 (Rs. 105 are taxes)

Free Package Nationwide Tarrifs - 60 Second Pulse (Including Taxes)

ZONG to ZONG: Rs. 2.42
ZONG to any other network: Rs. 2.42
SMS to any network: Rs. 0.24
ZONG Friends and Family numbers: 10 numbers
1 Free ZongNumber *: Free
Late Night Offer (Midnight to 7:00 am)**: Rs. 4.82 per hour
Break Time Offer (Noon to 2:00 pm)**: Rs. 4.82 per hour
ZONG Friends and Family rate: Rs. 1.21
MMS: Rs. 3.63/100KB
Mobile Internet: Rs. 12.1/MB

• ” = Limited Time Offer
• ** = All Zong Numbers
• You can subscribe to ZONG Free Package by dialing 908 with onetime charges of Rs. 15 only - Excluding Taxes (first time migration to this package is free)
• Balance validity is based on re-charge
• The free number can be modified only once every month
• You can choose to unsubscribe from Break Time offer by calling 310

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Zong Break Time Offer – Rs. 3.99 per Hour

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 9, 2008 at 2:15 PM

Zong’s Free Package, allows you to call all Zong Numbers at Rs. 3.99 (exclusive of taxes) from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

Other features include:

• Call one favorite ZONG number from midnight to 7am - absolutely free – for lifetime! Zong says it’s a a limited time offer, so rush now before you miss the deal of a lifetime!
• During Break Time Hours call all ZONG numbers at Rs.3.99 per hour from 12:00 PM to 2.00 PM.
• Add upto 10 Friends and Family numbers

Call Tariff for “Zong Free Package”

ZONG to ZONG: Rs. 2.00
ZONG to any other network: Rs. 2.00
SMS to any network: Rs. 0.20
1 Free Number Life Time - Midnight to 7:00 AM: Free
Late Night Offer, All Zong Numbers - Midnight to 7:00 AM: Rs. 3.99 per hour
Break Time Offer, All Zong Numbers – 12 PM to 2:00 PM: Rs. 3.99 per hour
ZONG Friends and Family numbers: 10 numbers
ZONG Friends and Family rate: Rs. 1.00
MMS: Rs. 3/100KB
Mobile Internet: Rs. 10/MB

Note: All Prices are exclusive of 21 Percent tax

How to Subscribe:

• You can subscribe to ZONG Free Package by dialing 900 with onetime charges of Rs. 15 only (first time migration to this package is free)
• Balance validity is based on re-charge
• Daily subscription charges are Re. 1
• The free number can be modified only once every month
• You can choose to unsubscribe from Break Time offer by calling 310
• To avail one free number the subscriber needs to maintain balance of Re.1. To reactivate call 900

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Mobilink Loosing Its Ground or Already lost it?

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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China Mobile to Invest USD 800 Mln This Year

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 29, 2008 at 3:56 AM

Wang Jianzhou, Chairman and Chief Executive, China Mobile, has said that company is interested in expanding its network in emerging markets, primarily in Asia and Africa, despite huge risks.

Reuters, citing Wang Jianzhou has reported that world’s largest mobile phone operator is going to invest further USD 800 millions in Pakistan only. Chief Executive said that after initial investment of USD 400 million, company has injected another USD 1.2 billion for network expansion, while taking number of cell sites to 4000 from just 800 since acquisition took place.

Despite political and markets risks, company is positive to invest more in Pakistani market. “We have a lot of risks, we have a lot of troubles,” Wang said

Wang was of the view that operating expenses in Pakistan are high due to power shortages in major cities and hiked taxes, while China Mobile’s investment in the country is still to see return. These statements can be taken as sighs of relief for Pakistan’s market, especially, when cellular companies are performing too little.

In such a scenario, decisions like these from other cellular companies can better the dropping level of revenues for telecom sector.

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Recap of Zong Prepaid Packages

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 11, 2008 at 10:41 AM

I receive plenty of enquires regarding Zong Prepaid Packages on daily basis. In this post I will try to summarize all prepaid packages offered by Zong. Please note that, All information presented on this page is taken from Zong’s official Website.

12 Anay Package

With Zong 12 Anay Package you can talk for any one hour for only Rs.6.04 (including taxes); you can change this one hour everyday!

• By Default 12 Anay Package will be activated, however, you can also activate 8 anay offer by by dialing 907 and each addition/modification will be charged at Rs. 15 + tax - For information about Activating 8 anay Offer click here
• (if 8 Anay Package is selected) 40 paisas extra will be charged during first minute. For Complete Details of 8 Anay Package click here
• 8 Aanay offer is only for one off-net number at a time and it can be changed any time
• You will have to activate “Happy Hour”, and can also change “Happy Hour” daily, however every action/modification will be charged at Rs5.
• Friends and family rate apply for 24 hours, for those customers who have subscribed for happy hour, Friends and Family rates will not be applicable during that hour.
• Happy hour can be modified once everyday.

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Zong Free Package

With Zong Free Package, you can call one Favorite Zong number for Free from midnight to 7am - absolutely free! This is a limited time offer, so rush now before you miss the deal of a lifetime!

Zong Free Package offers: During Break Time Hours call all ZONG numbers at Rs.4.82 per hour from noon to 2.00pm. Now you can call upto 10 Friends and Family numbers.

• & = Limited Time Offer
• ** = All Zong Numbers
• You can subscribe to ZONG Free Package by dialing 900 with onetime charges of Rs. 15 only - Excluding Taxes (first time migration to this package is free)
• Balance validity is based on re-charge
• Daily subscription charges are Re. 1
• The free number can be modified only once every month
• You can choose to unsubscribe from Break Time offer by calling 310
• To avail one free number the subscriber needs to maintain balance of Re.1. To reactivate call 900

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Zong Aik Paisa Package

With Zong’s “Aik Paisa Package”, you can make call for just 4 paisas per second!

• All Networks. All Numbers. All Time!
• Call 5 Friends and Family numbers for just 2 paisas per second.

• Customers can subscribe to ZONG Aik Second Package by dialing 900 with one-time charges of Rs. 15 only (first time migration is free)
• Package can be changed once every day
• Balance validity is based on re-charge

Note: Please call your helpline 304 to avoid any misunderstanding regarding these packages. Furthermore, these packages keep on changing, so also check latest Zong Packages here

You May Also find following Posts helpful on Zong Packages

• 20,000 SMS with Zong for Rs. 149
• Zong 8 Anay Package (50 Paisa per 30 Second)
• Call 1 Selected International Number @ 50 Paisa per 30 Seconds from Zong
• Get Zong Phone for Rs. 1
  
• GPRS and MMS Setting for Zong - Step by Step Tutorial
• Zong Dial Tunes for Your Callers - Complete Guide
• Hourly Internet Package on Mobile Phone by ZONG
• Free GPRS Internet on Zong - Step by Step Setting

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Get Your Zong SIM Delivered at Home

Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 5, 2008 at 10:55 AM

Zong Says that they are efficient enough to deliver your SIM (of your number choice) at your home. This is a wow service, provided that its reliable too.

To get ZONG Sim at your home, you need to book Zong Number Online. Once you have selected a Zong number of your choice, select “Home Delivery” Option at bottom, along with filling a form that asks for CNIC number and other details.

You will have to re-charge your number with Rs. 300 through scratch card or Miniload.

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