Telenor Pakistan has come up with yet another great offer for the pilgrims. This time the pilgrims can send free SMS messages to any network in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia.
This is first of its kind service from any Pakistani Cellular Company, where you can send Free SMS notifications to your family and friends back home from Saudi Arabia. These SMS Messages are not like regular SMS messages that we send, instead there are pre-defined messages that are meaningfull enough and ellaborates the message clearly. Keep reading to know more about this service…!
How to use the service:
1) When you Reach Saudi Arabia, Just dial *345# from any Telenor prepaid or postpaid number. A menu will appear with following four options.
Request top up
English Hajj Messages
Roman Urdu Hajj Messages
FAQs
2) For Hajj messages, choose option 2 or 3. 3) Enter the receivers cell phone number (e.g. 0345-XXXXXXX) 4) You will see the following messages in each category. You can send these messages to any network in Pakistan.
Option 2 (English Hajj Messages)
List of messages as
appearing to sender
Messages appearing
at receiver’s end
Reply with option number:
Reached Saudi Arabia
In Khana-e-Ka’aba
In Masjid-e-Nabwi
In Mina
In Arafat
Done Qurbani
Performed my Hajj
Eid Mubarik
I have reached Saudi Arabia
I am in Khana-e-Ka’aba
I am in Masjid-e-Nabwi
I am in Mina
I am in Arafat
I have done Qurbani
I have performed my Hajj
Eid Mubarik
Option 3 (Roman Urdu Hajj Messages)
List of messages as
appearing to sender
Messages appearing
at receiver’s end
Intekhab kejiay:
Saudia pohnch gya hoon
Khana-e-Ka’aba mey hoon
Masjid-e-Nabwi mey hoon
Mina mey hoon
Arafat mey hoon
Qurbani ker li
Hajj ker lia
Eid Mubarik
Saudia pohnch gya hoon
Main Khana-e-Ka’aba mey hoon
Main Masjid-e-Nabwi mey hoon
Main Mina mey hoon
Main Arafat mey hoon
Main ne Qurbani ker li
Main ne Hajj ker lia
Eid Mubarik
So you will have to select any SMS out of these, and your friends and Family will receive these messages in Pakistan - for FREE.
Terms & Conditions
These Messages would be FREE
You can send messages to any network in Pakistan.
Prepaid users can also request for balance by choosing top up option.
You don’t require any prior activation.
International roaming should be activated prior to leaving.
For international roaming activation just dial 345 or visit your nearest Telenor sales and service center.
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 18, 2008 at 4:02 AM
Ufone has changed the way its subscribers connect to CSRs while calling their help lines. Previously they had to
Call 333
Dial 1 for Urdu and 2 for English
Subscribers could dial 0 to connect to CSR
Now Ufone has changed this menu, and there are only three options available at main menu while there is no short code from main menu for connecting to CSR. (for both Pre-Paid and Post-Paid Costumers). One of their CSR has confirmed this.
Now the Menu is
Call 333
Dial 1 for Urdu or 2 for English
Dial 1 for Promotions, 2 for new services and 3 for account information
Dial 1 and select “Promotions”
Now you can dial 0 to connect to operator (CSR)
So next time you call Ufone helpline, don’t get shocked in case you don’t find any option for operator.
I am unable to comprehend why this operator’s short code comes under promotion menu? Just to make this IVR more complex - hence less load on their work force? Maybe with this move, Ufone wants to justify 5 percent service charges they recently imposed on all services.
In parallel, just check out this Telenor IVR map (published on their website), which clearly indicates all available options when you call their helpline.
By the way, selected cellular companies charge their customers for calling their helplines. Given that cellular companies rely on deceptive marketing, and less people have internet access to check out detailed information on their websites, these service numbers should be kept free of any charge. But if customers are paying for these calls too, then they must be offered with quality help and services.
Check out Babar Bhatti’s this post for more Telenor’s IVR.
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on October 5, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Ufone has been offering this service (for the first time in Pakistan) known as Push to Talk (PTT) or also called as Waklie Talkie. Before going into service details, let’s dig out what really this PTT service means?
What is Push to Talk Service?
PTT or Push to Talk is a feature similar to walkie-talkie that is provided over a cellular network. It means there is created a group of callers, who can connect to each other - their voice is broadcasted to whole of group members just like wireless handsets – and they don’t need to call again and again.. just press a single button and broadcast your message and release button to hear others.
In simple words, PTT is just like children playing with their Walkie Talkies.
How PTT or Ufone Walkie Talkie Works?
With Ufone Walkie Talkie service voice groups are created that can have up to 20 members. All these members of a certain group can communicate with each other through a data network (GPRS or EDGE) with always-on functionality.
Unfortunately not all mobile phones support PTT services. However, selected Nokia Mobile phones are equipped with Push to talk software. Once you have PTT feature in your handset, you can subscribe to Ufone’s Push to talk communication service.
Pushing a specific button on the mobile phone opens a voice channel to all selected participants of a group, whose phones will automatically play the caller’s voice through the phone loudspeaker - release the button and hear others talking back to you.
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 13, 2008 at 11:49 AM
Normally it happens that the number of characters allowed per SMS is 160 and if it exceeds this limit then you are charged for multiple SMS. Just wonder if you have software installed on your phone that enables you to send more than 160 characters at price of single message? Won’t it be a fun? Hey, I know you may not bother to have such an application because you hardly exceed your limit of 10,000 Bundle SMS package, but what if others (such as postpaid customers) don’t have this package?
Okay, let me tell you about this application, it is named as SMSZipper, and it can play wonders for you. This software compresses SMS, and you can send and receive up to 480 characters per message.
This software comes with a minimum requirement that the phone should be java compatible and it should have support for MIDP2.0 and CLDC 1.0. A list of compatible handsets are given below, also you can check your handset’s compatibility here
SMSZipper can also protect SMS in your inbox with a password, also the option of restoring the deleted messages. The most striking feature is the message self destruction feature which deletes the message after the time interval you set.
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.
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on August 5, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Last month, Nokia stopped supporting blackberry services on its handset, and the launch of Nokia E71 without blackberry was a clear indication from mobile phone manufacturer Giant Nokia to give competition to Blackberry.
Yes, Nokia has started offering Push Email services in a beta phase and that too at no cost, yes service is free but we don’t know how long it will remain free. Service named as “Nokia Email” is an application that offers native push emails to your Nokia devices.
Nokia email currently supports POP and IMAP email protocols. MSN Hotmail and Corporate Mails are not yet supported. However, Nokia says that may arrive very soon once the beta testing is over. Currently supported devices include: Nokia E51, E61, E61i, E65, E66, E71, E90, N73, N80, N81 8GB and N95.
How to use Nokia Email
To begin you must register on Nokia Email site. You will receive the application via download link to your mobile and application installation is very simple and smooth. Once the application is installed the set-up automatically begins.
Setting up the sync schedule is easy as well and of course since we want push we want it on at all times! Remember though that data charges will apply as per your GPRS/EDGE plan.
The inbox speaks for itself. The application also gives an option to create local folders which are stored on the device (but not synced with Gmail in this case). There are many other great features included in this application and we can expect even more in the final release.
For further reading and queries, check the FAQ’s to get your questions responded.
Handset Price = PKR 499
ZONG SIM Pack = PKR 150
12 months on-net airtime = PKR 2,032.8 (PKR 140 x 12 = 1680 + 352.8 as tax)
Advance Tax = PKR 168 Total Deal Price = PKR 2849
So this Rs. 1 handset is going to cost you Rs. 2849 : -)
Check Points:
You cannot buy handset or the SIM alone, means you will have buy the whole package
Free Air Time will compass over 12 months, and you can not consume that in a single month, which means you can consume free air time of Rs. 140 in first month and same in second and so on.
The built-in on-net airtime worth PKR 1,680 is only for ZONG to ZONG calls,
The un-used airtime will not carry forward to next month. For example if a customer uses PKR 110 worth of airtime till month end then remaining PKR 30 worth of airtime will be lost (confiscated).
Handset purchased under this deal would be functional with ZONG SIMs only. Other mobile network SIM will not work on this handset.
ZONG Handsets comes with six month warranty.
Warranty can only be claimed from the customer service center it was purchased from.
After 12 months customers will stop getting PKR 140 worth of monthly built-in on-net airtime. The customer can use the handset and the SIM after 12 months by recharging account as per regular procedure.
Conclusion
Ufone’s bundle offer of Rs. 999 for Handset and SIM was lot better than of this long term contract and handset that’s actually locked (means you can not use this handset with any other network)
Another element that left a bad impression about this handset offer Zong was its advertisement, which says that get a phone for Rs. 1 only…! and not only this, ad sayz “Mobile Phone Sirf 1 Rs main, 12 Maheenay kay balance kay sath” Now please Zong people us me from where this Handset is of Rs. 1???
Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 26, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Ufone has added another value in its line of VAS by offering a service through which one can read Holy Quran on his/her Mobile Phone in Arabic only or with its translation in English and Urdu.
Service charges are relatively high when compared to other Value Added Services by Ufone, and due to the fact that there are many Free Holy Quran applications for Mobile Phones available for various Mobile Models.
Other Free Holy Quran Applications
Holy Quran Applications For Symbian N Series, S60, S80 and UIQ Click Here
Holy Quran Applications For Java based phones Click here
Holy Quran Applications For Palm and Pocket PC Phones Click Here
Quran in Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, English, French, Spanish, Indonesian, German and Melayu languages for Java-enabled phones, Smartphones, Pocket PCs, Blackberry devices and Symbian OS : Click Here
How Holy Quran on Ufone Works?
You need to download an application on your phone by sending an SMS “Quran” at 981. Simply click on the link to download the application.
Once application is installed, you may browse through all Surahs and Chapters of Holy Quran
Limitations for Ufone Holy Quran
Application required for Ufone is compatible with only Symbian, Windows Mobile, S and N series Mobile Phones, that means only those phones which allow third party applications.
Charges
Rs. 5 per week + tax.
Features:
Quran on mobile allows you the option of reading the Quran in Arabic alongside its English or Urdu translation.
You can enable or disable the translation feature as and when you wish by simply going to the translation settings
This application allows you to go back to the last page viewed every time you wish to use the service.
You can search any verse you wish page by page or chapter by chapter by simply selecting the search option.
Telenor Pakistan has come up with yet another great offer for the pilgrims. This time the pilgrims can send free SMS messages to any network in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia.
Ufone has been offering this service (for the first time in Pakistan) known as Push to Talk (PTT) or also called as Waklie Talkie. Before going into service details, let’s dig out what really this PTT service means?
