PTCL Posts Rs. 4.97 Bln Net Profit for 9 Months of FY2010-11: ProPakistani

PTCL Posts Rs. 4.97 Bln Net Profit for 9 Months of FY2010-11
PTCL Offers Unlimited On-net calls on Sundays
Get Laptops at Installments from Meezan Bank
Branded Handsets Makers to Revive Their Market Share Against Chinese Gadgets
Mass Name Jacking Found in .PK Domains
You Got a Startup Idea? Here is a Chance to Get it Started with the Help of PSEB
Blocking Handsets with Duplicate IMEI Can Go Ugly

PTCL Posts Rs. 4.97 Bln Net Profit for 9 Months of FY2010-11

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 05:39 AM PDT

PTCL Posts Rs. 4.97 Bln Net Profit for 9 Months of FY2010-11 is a post from: ProPakistani

PTCL logo3 PTCL Posts Rs. 4.97 Bln Net Profit for 9 Months of FY2010 11 Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) today announced its financial results for 9 months ended 31^st March 2011 and said that it earned net profit of Rs. 4.972 billion down by 63 % from Rs. Rs.7.86 billion for the same period last year.

PTCL announced an per share earning of Rs. 0.97.for the reported 9 months of year 2010-11.

Net income fell to 949 million rupees ($11 million), in the three months ended March 31, from 2.5 billion rupees, compared to same period last year. Revenue fell almost 3 per cent to 13.3bn rupees.

PTCL is facing tough competition from cellular companies for its core telephony businesses. Despite new sources of income, on the commercial side, PTCL's revenues are consistently witnessing a negative growth for last few years.

the growth momentum of PTCL remained strong in emerging segments of Broadband and Corporate Services.

President & CEO PTCL Walid Irshaid commenting on the results said,

I am pleased to announce that we remained focused on our strategy of positioning PTCL as the leading integrated telecom company in Pakistan providing multiple solutions to business and household market segments and extending vital services to other telecom operators in Pakistan.

We remain highly conscious of the fact that our success and growth can only come from satisfied customers and it remains our challenge to provide friendly, seamless and prompt customer's service.

To this end, we endeavor to embark on several new projects intended to bring PTCL closer to the customers. We strongly believe that PTCL is poised to grow and remain the leading and dominant integrated telecom service provider of choice for customers throughout Pakistan.

PTCL in its statement said that it is the largest Broadband service provider in the country with now over 575,000 customers using its DSL broadband services in over 1000 cities and towns across Pakistan.

PTCL managed to increased its Broadband DSL market share to almost 90 percent in Q3 2011. In addition to this, the Broadband DSL business started contributing over half a billion rupees of monthly revenue to the company's account, making it the highest growth revenue stream in the entire product portfolio of PTCL.

PTCL Offers Unlimited On-net calls on Sundays

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 04:19 AM PDT

PTCL Offers Unlimited On-net calls on Sundays is a post from: ProPakistani

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has announced Unlimited On-Net Calls on Sundays effective from May 01, 2011 for a period of two months. Along with, monthly line rent will be increased from existing Rs. 174 per month to Rs. 199 per month (excluding tax).

After May 01, 2011 all PTCL landline Customers will be able to make Unlimited calls on PTCL Network (Landline and Vfone) for 24hrs on Sundays.

PTCL said that monthly landline rent will be reversed back to Rs. 174 per month after the end of promotional offer.

SEVP Commercial Naveed Saeed Stated that PTCL always provides best service and packages to its customers and this particular incentive of free on-net calls will enable all PTCL Landline customers to make longer duration calls to their loved ones without worrying about the bill on Sundays. He further added that PTCL has always and will always strive to provide its customers with the best and most affordable services.

Aasif Inam EVP Wire-line Business said this step will reinforce PTCL's image as a customer oriented organization .He further stated that it is our top priority to facilitate our customers to the maximum keeping in mind the needs of our customers by giving Unlimited On-Net Calls on Sundays against a nominal increase in line rent.

Further information can be obtained from PTCL Help line: 1236 or from PTCL franchise and one-stop shops.

Get Laptops at Installments from Meezan Bank

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 03:45 AM PDT

Get Laptops at Installments from Meezan Bank is a post from: ProPakistani

Meezan Bank has launched a new consumer financing product, which is Shariah-compliant and it will allow individuals and businesses to purchase laptops on easy installments.

By obtaining this facility, consumers can get laptops at an easy installment of 3 to 24 months in total. The bank will not charge any profit or return for customers who opt for the 3 month or 6 month installment plan.

The product has been launched in collaboration with M/s. New Horizon and is available for only HP laptops. M/s. New Horizon will provide two years warranty with parts along with nationwide after sales services at the customers' doorsteps.

An MoU for this arrangement was signed between Meezan Bank and New Horizon at Meezan Bank's Head Office. Mr. Mohammad Raza, Head of Consumer Banking of Meezan Bank and Mr. Rahim Eqbal, COO of New Horizon signed the MoU.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Raza said that Meezan Bank has an active focus on developing customer-friendly, Islamic alternatives to conventional banking products, in line with its Mission to offer a one-stop shop for innovative value-added products and services to the customers within the bounds of Shariah.

Salient features:

2 years warranty with parts provided by vendor.
Free Caring Case will be provided by vendor.
Dedicated Call Center by New Horizon for addressing after sale issues and providing after sales support to the customers at their door step
Absolutely Free Takaful Coverage. All laptops acquired through Meezan Laptop Ease will be covered by Takaful (Islamic Insurance) before delivery to the customers
Minimum down payment up to 15%
Laptop model offerings will vary from time to time in consistence with the latest & upgraded features and market demand.
Minimum age to avail this offer for both individuals and businessmen should be 20 years and maximum age should not cross over 60 and 65 years, respectively.
Laptops are available at easy monthly installments of as low as Rs 2,750/ per month-

For more information, visit any Meezan Bank Branch or call helpline at +92-21-111-331-331

Branded Handsets Makers to Revive Their Market Share Against Chinese Gadgets

Posted: 27 Apr 2011 12:58 AM PDT

Branded Handsets Makers to Revive Their Market Share Against Chinese Gadgets is a post from: ProPakistani

Branded mobile handsets makers are planning to push up their sales in the local market after Minister of Interior Rahman Malik ordered recently to stop sale of Chinese-made handsets without or duplicate IMEI (international Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers.

"I hope that share of Nokia will rise again in the local markets with the increase of its penetration to the customers willing to use high-tech, affordable and quality handsets", said Adeel Hashmi, Communications Manager Nokia Pakistan and Afghanistan, in an interview with ProPakistani.

"Our aim is to provide world class and long-live products to customers at affordable rates so we are trying our level best to install cutting-edge technology in our mobile handsets to reach a big population", he said.

Nokia handsets handsets are safe for security purposes because they are registered with authentic IMIE numbers and traceable throughout the country at any cellular operators' networks, Hashmi said.

There are dozens of Chinese brands with low cost, dual SIMs features and copycat of branded gadgets that captured a lion share of local markets or at retail shops over a period of last couple of years.

Rahman Malik recently ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block all handsets without or with duplicate IMEI. Therefore, millions of handsets could be blocked in coming months.

Minister has asked authority to frame a mechanism to allow handsets with valid IMIE through registration of importers. Also, imports of handsets are likely to be monitored by Custom Authorities (Federal Board of Revenue) to allow genuine mobile handsets.

The security measures are likely to affect the imports and market share of Chinese-made handset for the time being, which is a window of opportunity for branded mobile handset to revive their market share through their sales and marketing strategy.

The ban on Chinese handsets is good for sales of branded handset makers, Zeeshan Quershi, Samsung Head of Sales.

"Yes, you will see new branded handsets with low cost and attractive features in the local markets soon," he said while responding to query whether branded mobile makers will benefit from the decrease inflow of Chinese-made handsets in local markets.

We are working to enhance our market share through aggressive market and sales campaign in near future, he said and added Samsung will increase its sales at low price handsets' market, which means it will attract a big population of purchasers who buy gadgets priced between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000.

The handsets without or duplicate IMIE are misused easily but branded handsets are safe and conducive for local market keeping in mind crime situation of the country, he further said.

Local dealers said that market share of Chinese handsets is more than 70 percent in Pakistan whereas branded handsets could retain hardly 30 percent share in local market.

The new security measures are likely to change share distribution of the market in months to come if government acts in this direction with true letter and spirit.

Mass Name Jacking Found in .PK Domains

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 11:04 PM PDT

Mass Name Jacking Found in .PK Domains is a post from: ProPakistani

cybersquatting 300x241 Mass Name Jacking Found in .PK Domains Name jacking at huge level has been found among the top domain names of Pakistan.

Earlier Dawn News reported that HEC’s website www.hec.gov.pk is being name jacked to www.hec.edu.pk. But research shows that the story does not end here – in fact the scale is massive and numbers of name jacking instances are high for .PK domains.

Seems like person behind all this has invested a huge amount of money, registering almost all popular domain names with .com.pk .org.pk and .edu.pk

Popular domain names with their who is record are:

hec.org.pk – Kashif Jamal, Karachi, Pakistan
hec.edu.pk - Fayyaz Mubashir, Karachi, Pakistan
ku.edu.pk – Abdul Rehman, Karachi, Pakistan
pia.com.pk – Pakistan Internet Association, London
unitedmobiles.com.pk – Qunain Abbass, Karachi, Pakistan
meezanbank.com.pk – Meezan Bank IT Manager, Karachi, Pakistan
jung.com.pk – Muhammad Yasir – Sargodha, Pakistan
warid.com.pk – Abdul Ghafoor, Karachi, Pakistan
urdupoint.com.pk – Muhammad Ali, Karachi, Pakistan
dailyislam.com.pk – Abdul Rehman, Karachi, Pakistan

Complete list of the domains and sub-domains being name jacked can be found here.

Surely all these (domain owners’ names) are fake and just used to register the domains, while server stats show that all these websites are hosted on the same server with IP adress 75.125.2.100.

Websites are found to be hosted with ThePlanet.com (Now a part of Softlayer.com, acquired in Last November).

It merits mentioning here that .com.pk domains can easily be registered with PKNIC but the point to ponder is, .edu.pk domains can only be allotted to some organization which in fact have some degree awarding program. Moreover, before going online domain has to pass through certain verification procedures, which in above mentioned cases were simply ruled out or it really went online after verification?

The sole purpose behind all this is to earn money, obviously. But how? Yes you can easily get huge traffic by using some famous domain name which is already up in the market. People may mistakenly land on the wrong page, leaving you with a web hit and the story goes on.

Not only this, people usually register such domain names with an instinct to sell domains to the original product owners at inflated price, the term named as Cybersquatting.

Seems like either these brand names owners are unaware of the issue and PKNIC is least interested in doing proper verification before registering domain names like this. A proper law without an implementation is apparently the law now.

Concerned authorities have already been notified about the issue and the response and action is awaited.

Will name jacking like this be allowed as it is basic right of a person to register any domain name that is available? Or there must be some rule prohibiting individuals or organizations to use the previously registered trademark in their domain name?

If so, whose responsibility is to control such issues? Either the brand owners should be aware enough to take legal actions about such issues or PKNIC should be bound to keep these trademarks to their respective owners only? Where FIA and NR3C stands?

Leaving these questions unanswered to have public opinion, comments are welcomed.

You Got a Startup Idea? Here is a Chance to Get it Started with the Help of PSEB

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 10:52 PM PDT

You Got a Startup Idea? Here is a Chance to Get it Started with the Help of PSEB is a post from: ProPakistani

PSEB has announced that it can assist you (in variety of ways) if you have got an idea which is great and you need support to get it executed.

PSEB says it can provide young entrepreneurs with some initial capital, office space, computers with internet connectivity, partial monthly expense, and two supervisors (one to look into technical things while other to guide you through business development).

PSEB is seeking enthusiasts in any of following combination:

Teams of 1-5 people, "want to be" Entrepreneurs of the following type,
Professionals who have already been in the industry 0-10 or more years
Students in their 3rd year or 4th year who have a promising final year project or otherwise would like to work on a new idea
Anyone who has a decent idea that can change the world or at least make a difference in the life of at least a few thousand other people
Student teams lead by a professor
Any weird combination of the above

What do you need to have?

A lot of passion
A half decent technology driven business idea that can at least change the life of a few thousand to a few million people, the more the better
An idea that can get to a product or at least a working prototype (not smoke and mirrors) in 6 months or less

What will PSEB provide?

Space to hang out, that is, office space with Internet connection, sever, desk, chair and a computer
Some seed capital to buy a computer or other equipment
Monthly stipend to cover food and transportation, rest is your sweat equity
Adult Supervision, that is, two mentors assigned to each company, one technical, one business.

What are the criteria for selection?

A promising idea that can get to a product or a working prototype in 6 months or less
A software or software utility that is commercially viable
A software or software utility that is aimed at ICT4D
A software, microcontroller system or utility that can serve a commercial purpose or a national need
A gadget, circuit or electro-mechanical device/contraption that is relevant to a few thousand to few million people (preferably driven by a microcontroller but not necessary).

How can you apply?

PSEB has arranged "pitch sessions" in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi on following dates:

Islamabad: April 30^th at TieCon Islamabad to be held at the Convention Center.
Karachi: May 3^rd; venue to be announced later.
Lahore: May 7^th; venue to be announced later.

To apply for any of the pitch sessions, you can send an e-mail to incubators@pseb.org.pk with the following details:

One page proposal outlining your idea, what problem it solves and why it is (or can be) relevant to at least a few thousand people.
Include your name and a phone number to contact you and your university if you are currently a student.

Blocking Handsets with Duplicate IMEI Can Go Ugly

Posted: 26 Apr 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Blocking Handsets with Duplicate IMEI Can Go Ugly is a post from: ProPakistani

We have been hearing that PTA is preparing to block all handsets with fake IMEIs or what they are calling is "Duplicate IMEI".

For the purpose, PTA (with the help of cellular companies) has identified handsets with duplicate/fake IMEI numbers and are sending out SMSes to such handset owners to prepare their alternative handsets or their SIMs will get blocked.

However, there is this problem that PTA or anyone is not able to identify that which handset (of two with same IMEI) is powered by Nokia or other legitimate manufacturer.

We have been receiving emails from our readers, who have original Nokia (or other branded) phones but are getting those SMSes about possible blockade of their numbers.

Here is one such comment we received recently:

I have received message on 21/04/2011 from P.T.A that my original Nokia handset model 5230 with IMEI no 354336043288687 is illegal.

I have purchased this set 6,7 months ago from a shop named International Mobile Zone, Hyderabad, Sindh and my set is still under 6 months warranty provided by United Mobile.

Kindly guide me how to settle this problem unnecessarily created for me.

Yours faithfully
Aisha Parveen

You can see the misery of customers and time they will have to waste due to the whole scenario.

Few of them may end up actually loosing their Nokia phones, due to lack of awareness and ordinary support from phone vendors.

It is not that we are against the ban of fake IMEI handsets, but a million dollar question is: Why did the government allow these handsets to get imported in first place?

Now if Chinese handsets have penetrated so deep in our local industry, given they are workable, they are inexpensive – then why Government suddenly got worried about them?

If security concerns are for real or Government got tipped by the mobile phone manufacturers on this?