Facebook Up for 2nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day: ProPakistani

Facebook Up for 2nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day
Nokia Recycling Program Envisions A Greener Pakistan
Microsoft Acquires Skype for $8.5 Billion
Warid Receives FDI Excellence Award
FPCCI Slammed For Proposing Fixed Tax on Cellular Subscribers
Ufone Profits Up by 78 Percent
What To Do at a Telecom Internship?
To Work or Not to Work for a Start-up?

Facebook Up for 2nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day

Posted: 10 May 2011 07:10 AM PDT

Facebook Up for 2nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day is a post from: ProPakistani

Once again Facebook is up for blasphemy, another Draw Muhammad Day has been announced at Facebook, titled as 2^nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day on May 20.

Another petition has be been filed against Facebook to ban it permanently in the country.

Two persons, Muhammad and Ahmed have filed petition against this 2^nd Annual Draw Muhammad Day Contest.

Earlier the issue went to heights when Facebook announced Draw Muhammad Day where protestants from all walks of the life demanded a permanent ban on Facebook. Though a ban was implemented but facebook went back online after some time.

Though there are different school of thoughts having their own opinion regarding the ban on Facebook, but majority seems to be in favor of permanent ban on Facebook.

The two petitioners through their lawyer Muhammad Azhar Siddique asked permanent ban on facebook and requested the court to direct the Civil Lines SHO to register a criminal case under Section 295-C against the perpetrators for organizing the competition again.

The petitioner also went of the view that all blasphemous content over the internet ought to be banned in Pakistan and authorities should take necessary steps in banning all related websites like Facebook involved in blasphemy.

The petitioner has named the federal government, the ministry of communication, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, and the Punjab government as respondents in this regard.

After hearing the petition, the court said that no blasphemy act against Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) will be tolerated and has called for all the records regarding the blasphemy act by Facebook and petitions filed.

This issue was earlier raised to its apex when Facebook didn't bother to remove the page rather it showed disappointment over the ban imposed in Pakistan. Rumors were, that Facebook has taken down the page but it never happened infact.

Nokia Recycling Program Envisions A Greener Pakistan

Posted: 10 May 2011 06:39 AM PDT

Nokia Recycling Program Envisions A Greener Pakistan is a post from: ProPakistani

Partner logos Nokia Recycling Program Envisions A Greener Pakistan

Nokia recently kicked-off a two month long Mobile Phone Take Back and Recycling Campaign in collaboration with Ufone, Unilever, Radio FM 91, ARY Music, Orient Advertising and United Media.

All the companies involved in the campaign joined hands to improve the environmental awareness in Pakistan and to provide an easily accessible solution for responsible recycling of mobile phones, accessories, chargers and mobile batteries of all brands.

Recycling is processing old materials into something new in order to prevent wasting useful material, to cut down on energy consumption and to reduce the need for waste land filling that can spoil Pakistan's environment.

People all across Pakistan are contributing to the campaign by recycling old and redundant or even broken mobiles that are no longer of use. Taking part in this campaign is easy: simply bring your old mobile devices, chargers, batteries and accessories of all brands to one of the 33 Nokia Care Centres or Ufone Sales and Service Centres across the country.

The campaign will give a free gift hamper from Unilever and a chance to win a brand new Nokia N8 device only if person will drop off a mobile phone for recycling (all brands accepted).

Nokia Mobile Phone Take Back and Recycling Program rolled out in Pakistan during 2010. At this point in time, Nokia aims to increase awareness about why it is important to recycle your old phone and how easy it can be done.

Talking about Nokia's contribution to environment in Pakistan, Adeel Hashmi, Communications Manager, Nokia Pakistan & Afghanistan, said,

Nokia has a comprehensive sustainability and environmental strategy and recycling is one of the key aspects covered. We understand that leadership means responsibility, that's why at Nokia we consider the environment in everything we do and even go beyond our own operations and products: we want to give that chance to our consumers as well because we understand that a power of a billion people can do a lot of good to our environment.

If the 4.6 billion people using mobile phones recycled just one unused phone at the end of its life, together we would save nearly 370,000 tons of raw materials and reduce greenhouse gases to the same effect as taking 6 million cars off the road.

According to Nokia's global consumer survey on recycling, only 3% of people said they had recycled their old phone – whereas 44% of old mobile phones are lying at home for no use and not being recycled. The survey revealed that one of the main reasons why so few people recycle their mobile phones is because they simply don’t know that it is possible to do so.

Mobile devices and accessories contain raw materials which – if recycled in a responsible high standard process – can be reused in many ways to make new things, such as musical instruments or even dental fillings. 100 percent of the materials in Nokia devices can be recovered and used to make new products or generate energy.

Commenting on the campaign kick-off, Reza Burney, Country Care Manager Nokia Pakistan & Afghanistan said,

"It is an exciting moment for Nokia to bring an opportunity for Pakistani consumers to make a positive contribution to the environment. Nokia has more than 5,000 recycling points globally in almost 100 countries. In Pakistan, we initiated an awareness drive to help people understand recycling and its benefits, and in addition we facilitate that all collected devices, chargers, accessories and batteries are recycled in a responsible way according to high environmental standards.

By working together, small individual actions can add up to make a big difference and we have made recycling old mobile phones very simple for people. All they need to do is drop in the old mobile phone, charger, battery or accessories of any brand at one of our collection points and we'll take care of the rest.

Nokia does neither resell the phones nor carry out refurbishment business as there is no control over the quality or safety of the phones after restoration. Instead, Nokia works with carefully selected, approved recyclers who reclaim materials according to highest environmental and international standards.

Complementing its green initiative, Nokia has also introduced a number of green apps on its Ovi Store that help people contribute to a better environment through fun activities. A complete list of environment friendly apps is available on www.ovi.com/dogood website.

More information about Nokia's Recycling program is available on www.nokia.com/werecycle.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Microsoft Acquires Skype for $8.5 Billion

Posted: 10 May 2011 05:53 AM PDT

Microsoft Acquires Skype for $8.5 Billion is a post from: ProPakistani

Skype Microsoft Acquires Skype for $8.5 Billion The software giant, Microsoft has bought Skype for $8.5 billion, in all cash deal.

The agreement has now been approved by the boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype.

Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft, and chief exec Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Microsoft Skype Division, reporting directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

Skype has been up for sale for some time. eBay and Silver Lake Partners, previous share holders of Skype have been getting nervous about the delayed initial public offering and have been pushing for a sale of Skype.

Facebook and Google were also in the list to acquire Skype, but Microsoft, though a late applicant, has now taken it.

Possible Benefits Microsoft May get from Skype Now:

Skype gives Microsoft a boost in the enterprise collaboration market, thanks to Skype's voice, video and sharing capabilities, especially when competing with Cisco and Google.
It gives Microsoft a working relationship with carriers, many of them looking to partner with Skype as they start to transition to LTE-based networks.
It would give them a must-have application/service that can help with the adoption of the future versions of Windows Mobile operating system.
However, the biggest reason for Microsoft to buy Skype is Windows Phone 7 (Mobile OS) and Nokia. The software giant needs a competitive offering to Google Voice and Apple's emerging communication platform, Facetime.
The purchase also provides Microsoft with a wealth of p2p and collaboration technology expertise and intellectual property, an increasingly important asset to have these days.
It also brings reach: Skype's user base is comparable to that of Facebook in terms of size (more than 600 million registered users).

Who Gets How Much?

eBay gets $2.55 billion for its 30 percent stake in Skype.
Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the co-founders with their 14-percent stake, take home about $1.19 billion.
Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) own 56 percent of the company and that stake is worth $4.76 billion.
Andreessen Horowitz had 3 percent of the deal and made $205 million profit on their $50 million initial investment.

It may be pre-predictions but Microsoft has got one big tool in his hand now and surely the competitors must be thinking what is coming next? The integration of Skype in the later version of Windows will surely make Google and Facebook to feel the heat.

Whatsoever is the output, Microsoft seems to be back in the battle with Google Voice, while Facebook still stands at the other end.

via GigaOm and TechCrunch

Warid Receives FDI Excellence Award

Posted: 10 May 2011 04:36 AM PDT

Warid Receives FDI Excellence Award is a post from: ProPakistani

Warid Telecom, Dhabi Group's Telecom arm in Pakistan, has been awarded the FDI Excellence Award.

Award is to recognize the commendable role and efforts of foreign direct investors in Pakistan.

The 'Diplomatic and Foreign Investment Excellence Awards' event was organized by 'Diplomatic Call International and Members of Managing and Advisory Committee'.

Warid Telecom is Pakistan's leading cellular operator that is widely acknowledged for its excellence in cellular services. The company is one of the top foreign direct investor in Pakistan that played a very substantial role in supporting economy of the country as well as creation of mass job and business opportunities.

The company also holds a very strong brand reputation and exceptionally positive customer loyalty trends.

FPCCI Slammed For Proposing Fixed Tax on Cellular Subscribers

Posted: 10 May 2011 02:11 AM PDT

FPCCI Slammed For Proposing Fixed Tax on Cellular Subscribers is a post from: ProPakistani

Experts and officials of cellular sector have lambasted proposal of Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for imposing fixed monthly tax on mobile customers who have been already bearing high taxes on telephony services, terming it a biased approach against foreign investors based on incorrect estimations for generating revenues.

The trade body proposed the government to reduce taxes up to zero-rated for local industries but suggested imposition of new taxes on the sector which is already victim of discrimination and paying high taxes and duties on different accounts.

The apex chamber must offer tax imposition on different sector or deduction of revenues on the products and services of local industry as charity or financial support like Benazir Income Support Fund to low income group in order to alleviate poverty in the country, an official of the leading cellular sector said and added cellular operators will support local industrialists and businessmen to transfer their money through mobile banking.

The proposal is biased idea against foreign companies is illogical and anti-people approach, he said on the condition of anonymity.

The trade body always protects industrialists at large who committed tax evasions and are involved in violating rights of workers, he alleged. "The cellular sector attracted huge foreign investment, created billion rupees revenues, provided employment to thousands of graduates and brought advance technology in the country."

Overall the users of telephony services have paid Rs 36.35 billion in the July-December 2010 on the account of sales tax at 19.5 percent and withholding tax at 10 percent rate with 11.53 percent growth

Telecom sector is the second highest paying contributor to GST and fourth most sector for generating withholding tax to the national exchequer.

The cellular subscribers are already paying 19.5 percent on telephony services which is highest among all sectors besides tax burden was increased on them in the form of increase in withholding tax to 11.5 percent recently.

Cellular operators have been supporting new customers and paying activation tax from their own pocket for couple of years. It has been done obviously for their own business interest but it also helped people to purchase mobile phone connection for comfortable lives, another official said.

The FPCCI proposal to government for imposing tax translates into devastating of cellular industry with contraction of subscribers base. On the other hand, it is also a proposal to destroy an industry which provides business opportunities to hundreds of small and medium sized entrepreneurs in the form of retail business through out the country, he said on the request to be anonymous.

In 2005-10, the cellular sector contributed significantly in overall telecom sector to attract Rs 6 billion Foreign Director Investment (FID). It also generated Rs 352 billion revenues to the national kitty in terms of taxes

The cellular sector is matchless with any other industry of the Pakistan particularly in the last couple of years, it played a tremendous role to spur economy of the country, he claimed.

FPCCI suggested the government to tax on monthly basis millions of customers that include low income group people, retired employees, widows and students, an expert of Telecom sector said.

The number of cellular phone is not up to 100 million in Pakistan but they are many users who are holding multi SIMs, therefore, the calculation of supreme trade body of the country is absolutely wrong.

There are lot of SIMs that are inactive or reactivated by users with the gap of couple of months besides a significant number of users who are still unregistered and can't pay tax through proposed system of revenue collection.

On the other hand, millions of subscribers who are possessing more than one connections of different mobile operators are watchman, sweeper, peon and etc. and can't afford to pay a monthly Rs 100 tax on every SIM ,which is equal to 1,200 per year.

The international principal of economy suggested that tax should be imposed on the basis of their income resources or ability to pay tax, hence, a fixed rate tax from poor to rich users of mobile phone users is not legal and as per rule of economy.

Expert said the cellular sector people are little enraged with the proposal of apex chamber of the country which might be materialized by the government in the coming budget because the sector proved strong enough to bypass previously attempts to ban night call packages demanded by members of two provincial assemblies in the past.

Ufone Profits Up by 78 Percent

Posted: 09 May 2011 09:39 PM PDT

Ufone Profits Up by 78 Percent is a post from: ProPakistani

PTCL in its recent most third quarterly financial report has said that Ufone's revenues have increased by 16 percent during first three quarters of 2010-2011 ending March 31st, 2011 when compared to same duration last year.

Without mentioning the figures, report said that Ufone, the wholly owned subsidiary of PTCL, managed to raise its profits by 78 percent during the reported period than the same period last year.

On other hands, Quarterly report said that PTCL's revenue decreased by 5%. The PTCL Group Revenue of Rs. 77.38 billion for the period under review was 5 % higher compared to the corresponding period last year.

The Group net profit of Rs. 7.91 billion showed a 14% decline compared to same period last year.

Complete financial report can be downloaded by clicking this link

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

What To Do at a Telecom Internship?

Posted: 09 May 2011 09:37 PM PDT

What To Do at a Telecom Internship? is a post from: ProPakistani

Internships are a matter of life and death for undergraduates. I remember the people around me being worried out of their wits to somehow waste their summers at an office that looks good. On a humorous note, our telecom industry offers there are two types of internships:

Through HR
Through reference

If you have grabbed an official internship, it is still fine. They will kick you everywhere and get you working. Through a referential entry, on the other hand, you would need to build everything on your own. Talking about vendors, you are lucky if you would find someone drawing off a little time and transferring some of his/her expertise to you. Else, it is all about assimilation- self learning!

I recall my internship at a vendor maintaining MSC of a leading mobile operator. There were hardly four regular employees at that site and I always felt like falling asleep in the chilly environ poised so delicately. I was informed the very first day that I have to learn everything on my own.

The year 2009 saw the release of second edition of NED University's telecommunication magazine 'CommuniCat'. In the cover story an Ericsson Radio Network Design Manager was found quoting that often the interns are handed the least important tasks. However, we try to expose the intern to maximum interaction to colleagues and to maximum awareness about workplace ethics.

On the other end however, where there is a rigorous process of roll-out underway, even a two-month internship might be of much use. In such cases interns are usually hired for drive testing, site installation and nominal office tasks.

I recently had a chance of discussing the culture of internship with a leading consumer based multinational company and I could not help pondering about the way we (in telecom) carry interns through the internship course. Often they are not considered the part of Human Resource a company should mandatorily look after.

If I should take the names then at one hand where major cellular operators are known for treating an intern as a part of their HR, a few others do not really bother about the intern's motivation level.

In early part of its roll-out phase, Qubee recruited a few final year interns to deploy its sites. They were not even given laptops from the company; one ended up losing his own, yet the company never cared.

To Work or Not to Work for a Start-up?

Posted: 09 May 2011 09:35 PM PDT

To Work or Not to Work for a Start-up? is a post from: ProPakistani

startup To Work or Not to Work for a Start up? A start up is a company with a limited operating history. The term start-up became popular internationally during the dot-com bubble in nineties when a great number of dot-com companies were founded.

In reference with technology, immediate names of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg come to mind. Though Facebook, Microsoft and Google once upon a time were start ups, every start up doesn't climb the ladder of glory like them.

Start-up life really starts from a class room. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is the world leading entrepreneurship institute. One clear indication of this is that till 1997 its students founded 4,000 companies, employed over a million people and had annual sales of 232 billion US dollars. It is the spirit of entrepreneurships that MIT inhales in its student which enabled them to change the world.

It is common that start-up would not give you big salary from day one. Until your start-up is investing and have developed an innovative product and finished hiring you would be helping your bosses to make invested money fruitful.

If you are fresh out of university and resolute to work for a start up, following are some of the requisites you should have:

Since a start-up doesn't have a great name and fame yet, it's up to you to make it a great brand. It's a major risk to work for a start-up but as they say every success is built on a risk that one took so early. Working for a start-up you will need to have extra enthusiasm and passion.

Working for a tech start-up you would get a chance to put your hands on new technologies like Apple, Windows, and Android etc, and it is important that you learn new techniques quickly to be in a good position. But you should also make sure that the start-up is really working on an innovative idea and not just putting a label of innovation.

You should properly get to know the domain areas the Start-up is working on. If it is working on several different projects like Web design, Technical writing, SEO, and Copy writing all at once you should know that it has nothing much to offer to your career and is just working on free lance projects. Today there are several companies who assign people the projects from free lancer and other such free lance websites and make money for themselves.

Working with a tech start-up would grant you an opportunity to work in multiple positions under different circumstances, making you accustom to new ideas in a single organization that other wise you would have to learn working at various organizations.

With less level of bureaucracy you would get a chance to closely interact with your boss at a personal level which will enhance your vision and your thinking towards a certain project. Such opportunities to be friendly discuss ideas with your boss are rarely seen other than in a small company or a start-up.

Start up will also allow you to learn the basic skills of working in a tech market. If you are starting from zero experience it is good for you to go for a start-up. As it is a fresh company just like you which is going to set the pace for its coming life like you.

Working for a start-up in simple words is the reward of your work, if you work hard you will certainly make your life and so do your company as well.

Working with a start-up has its own opportunities and disadvantages and you should be ready for both.

Blog of Asad Mirjat

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