Archive for
November, 2009
Published by Babar Bhatti on November 30, 2009
under BlackBerry, Gadgets, Information Technology, Mobile Phones, Security, Smart Phones, iPhone
As smartphones become more like portable computers, scammers, phishers and other cybcer criminals have stepped up their attacks on smartphones. Here are a few excerpts from an article which provides tips on securing your smartphone.
Security experts have long warned of the vulnerability of smart phones to hackers. And in the past year the threat has been highlighted by an attack on the Symbian operating system, used mainly by Nokia Corp. phones, and a demonstration at a conference of a flaw that was found in the iPhone’s security.
As the software for smart phones becomes more sophisticated and open, they become better breeding grounds for a new generation of spyware and viruses. Hackers can work their way into your phone through text messages, steal your information and use your contact list to find more victims. Scammers can now dupe you into revealing your Social Security number or credit-card account number on your phone, just like they’ve been doing for years on PCs.
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Published by Babar Bhatti on November 29, 2009
under Auegre, Broadband Internet, Business, Consumer Rights, Data, Digital Convergence, Emerging Markets Telecom, ICT, Infrastructure, Internet, Networks, PTA, PTCL, Pakistan, Qubee, Telecommunications, Wateen, Wimax, fiber-to-the-home, wi-tribe
When compared with cellular phone growth, Broadband has been slow to take off in Pakistan. However the last two years show some progress in terms of growth (a little over 20K subscribers per month), more choices of services in more places and most importantly a significant drop in cost for broadband access (~Rs.1200 per month on average). Another welcome trend is to move towards unlimited broadband.
PTCL has taken the lead with its DSL and EVO offerings while WorldCall, Mobilink Infinity, Wateen / WiMAX, Qubee, NayaTel and Wi-Tribe have also offered their services.
According to PTA, “broadband subscriber base grew by 146% adding 245,727 subscribers during July 2008 – June 2009, while broadband connection charges for 1Mbps connection dropped below Rs. 1000. There were 413,809 Broadband subscribers in June 2009 as compared to 168,082 in June of 2008.”
At the current rate of broadband growth we can cross the half-million mark by December 2009. We need to get to 1 million much faster.
Daily Times recently wrote about broadband, excerpt below.
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s (SDPI) Study Group on Information Technology and Telecommunication in its 56th meeting discussed the problems that hinder broadband growth in Pakistan. Relevant stakeholders participated in the meeting. Wahaj ul Siraj of NayaTel and Zamir Bhatti of Wi-tribe reviewed the existing policy and infrastructure sharing issues.
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Published by Babar Bhatti on November 29, 2009
under Telecom News
Published by Babar Bhatti on November 28, 2009
under Mobile Companies, Mobile Phones, Mobile Trends, Pakistan, Telecommunications
After all is said and done – Mobile number portability, Zong launch, SIM correction, political upheavals and economic recession – where do we stand in terms of mobile telecom market growth and future? Remember that Pakistan saw a tremendous speed of increase in subscribers, going from ~34 million to ~94 million in 36 months from June 2006 to June 2009. That is no small feat and as we celebrate the Eid holidays, lets keep that accomplishment in mind.
Published by Arsalan Mir on November 27, 2009
under Brands, Information Technology, Telecommunications, Wateen
On my way to Karachi, I got a chance to use internet on Wateen Kiosks set-up at Islamabad Airport. I would have really appreciated Wateen’s attempt to put on the complimentary kiosks for travelers and providing them services. But as I got over with my work and closed the browser, I saw something that can not be expected from a recognized broadband company while promoting their brand.
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Published by Babar Bhatti on November 27, 2009
under Brands, Business, Consumer Rights, Customer service, Government Regulations, Mobile Companies, Networks, PTA, Telecommunications
The story has been the same for many years. The surge in network activity at Eid time is accompanied by service issues. And recently some companies have withdraw certain popular packages, SMS in particular. My thinking is that if a company can’t offer these packages during the peak times, then don’t bother offering it at all. Otherwise it sounds like switch and bait and hurts the brand reputation. Read more »
Published by Babar Bhatti on November 26, 2009
under Mobile Applications, Mobile Content, Mobile Trends, Mobile Web, Telecommunications, Value Added Services
Lesson from emerging telecom market – when revenues per user from voice are going down, find creative ways to encourage users to spend on other (data) services. And that’s what Indian cell phone companies have done by offering radio, sports and other entertainment and religious services over cell phones to rural areas, where such services had never reached before. ARPU comparison below is from a recent WSJ article on the mobile VAS market in India. And this dear readers, is the answer to the “suggest a title” mystery post. The woman in the picture was listening to radio on her cell phone.
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Published by Babar Bhatti on November 25, 2009
under Broadband Internet, Consumer Rights, Digital Divide, Emerging Markets Telecom, PTCL, Pakistan, Telecommunications, Wateen, fiber-to-the-home
Universal Service Fund of Pakistan continues its initiatives to award substantial funds for rural connectivity in Pakistan. Recently USF awarded telecom contracts worth Rs. 1.25 Billion for providing Broadband Internet in the un-served urban areas of Hazara Telecom Region (HTR) with PTCL and Wateen Telecom and Optic Fiber connectivity to un-served tehsils of Central Balochistan with Wateen Telecom. Read more »
Published by Babar Bhatti on November 25, 2009
under Telecommunications
A post will follow to explain the story behind the picture. Meanwhile what do you think the picture is about?
Published by Arsalan Mir on November 25, 2009
under Consumer Rights, Mobile Companies, Mobilink, Telecommunications, Telenor, Ufone, Warid, Zong
Obnoxious calls/missed calls or SMSs are sometimes very disturbing. In this post I will do a round-up of the Block Services being offered by our telecom operators.
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Published by Arsalan Mir on November 24, 2009
under ICT, Pakistan, Stocks, Telecom News, Telecommunications, events
Power crisis derail the performance of all industries but due to competition, mobile companies suffer a lot from this. The use of diesel to run gensets on the cell sites and other offices add to the operational costs of the operators and despite the global recession the call rates offered in Pakistan are the lowest in the world. This was highlighted by Vice President Ufone Naveed Butt at the Telco Blood Bath at LUMS Colloquium 2009. He also said that companies should adopt the policy of simplicity and should focus on customer value.
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Published by Babar Bhatti on November 24, 2009
under Business, Companies, Education, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, blogging
Entrepreneurship looks so glamorous and noble when you are about to start on that great idea. With all the excitement of creating something big, failure is not something that a lot of entrepreneurs want to think about. If you are a typical entrepreneur you make a lifestyle choice: you live from hand to mouth, spend all/most of your savings, work hard for many years and sacrifice your relationships with friends and family. So what is an entrepreneur supposed to do when all of that effort ends up as being a grand failure? Well, if you are Jawwad Farid, you write a book about the lesson learned AND start another venture.
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