Friday, March 4, 2011

The Half-Berry Story of Pakistan: ProPakistani

The Half-Berry Story of Pakistan: ProPakistani

Link to Pro Pakistani

The Half-Berry Story of Pakistan

Posted: 04 Mar 2011 02:38 AM PST


The Half-Berry Story of Pakistan is a post from: ProPakistani

blackberry pakistan The Half Berry Story of PakistanThe greatest proof of the impact that technology has had on the overall fabric of life for the employed individual can be seen in the variance of working culture trends that is abound in the present society.

In the early 90s, the work-life balance was maintained by the limitation of information sharing and resource movement. No sense carrying a desktop that weighed more than the filing cabinet home every day.

Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian company behind the infamous Blackberry (BB), brought the personal assistant around the turn of the century. The ideology was to build on the concept of a two-way pager, which later translated into a concentrated focus on email. That is why the QWERTY keypad became a synonymous feature of each BB device, excluding the Storm series.

For the corporate world, the promise of constant communication with key members of the workforce and information security through encryption was enough attraction to climb the bandwagon. Initially carried by the top henchmen of an organization, the blinking device has ended up on the bedside tables of the masses. Amazingly, it has also made zombies of the once normal folk, who would not have woken up to old-age alarms, but will immediately respond to a red blink or chirp of a new message.

Half-way into the recently consumed decade, RIM undertook a revamped approach to marketing its product. It already had the lion's share of the smartphone market, but most of it was entrenched by large corporations and multinationals that wanted to rope in their employees with an always-on work mode.

The new marketing gimmick was to make the devices cooler to appeal to the upcoming younger crowd, and this involved re-designing features of the device, e.g. the track-pad. Add to that the convenience of a messenger application (BBM for the members of the Berry Brigade) that allows free communication with fellow BB users around the globe, and RIM had managed to begin the pull of another market segment in droves.

BB services entered Pakistan in 2005 thanks to Mobilink. Over the years, its uptake has followed a trend similar to global ones, with corporates leading the way. In fact, the period of computerization of processes has made smartphones a key component of the requirements for every day work. Most large corporations and multinationals have the accepted process of issuing a device to that new worker on the first day, ensuring that the skill they have acquired is not wasted at any time of the day.

Even on the individual front, the BB fad has grown exponentially. One could attribute it to the global village footprint which now encompasses the urban centers of Pakistan, especially among the large number of young professionals who have returned after spending some time in the West. For them, the internet and cellular connection features among the most basic necessities of life.

BlackBerry Ban:

However, since May last year, the services which are standard for BB users across the globe have become sub-standard for the many in Pakistan. The restriction which was enforced to block blasphemous content now appears to concentrate largely on the Berry Brigade.

After all, the Pakistani mind is so fragile that it is essential for the PTA to censor or control so that we may not hurt ourselves by going to the wrong places.

In addition to the above, there is also the push by the government to have more visibility of the information moving on the RIM secure expressway; something that is resonant of requests made by other Middle Eastern nations.

The strange factor is that the PTA restriction was lifted several months ago, but BB services still remain a drag. For all those prepared to pounce, this refers to Blackberry Internet Services (BIS) and not Blackberry Enterprise Services (BES). The latter works off a server at the organization's premises, connected with a domain/email server.

Who is Responsible?

Berry Brigade continues to blame operators and the PTA for giving us a half-empty pitcher while charging for the full. However, insiders report a different reasoning that involves RIM and its request to have complete indemnity from all BB issues, as the Pakistani cellular operators have deployed local kill switches and filters to enforce any future PTA directives.

For RIM, any such deployment is a hindrance to its information model, which is created around sanctity of data between the sender and receiver and a freedom of use.

Backup Plan

While this battle continues, other device manufacturers are preparing to counter the Berry-mania with their own solutions. Samsung and Dell have announced enterprise software that would work on the exact same dynamics as RIMs, with smartphone devices to rival BBs. Microsoft, with the launch of Windows Phone 7, has built the foundation to take steps towards similar pastures, and as Microsoft Exchange dominates most organization's computer architecture, analysts are hoping for brighter things from the software giant.

Members of the Berry Brigade continue to grow and BBM to their fellow berries across the world, with the hope that someday soon, they will wake up to find the cellular providers giving them their full pitcher of berry services. And maybe even access to the App World. Till then, the brigade continues to hold blink vigils in all corners of the society.

Have a gaze around the next gathering you attend; that red or green blink is our protest to be given fair treatment.

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Copyright © 2010 ProPakistani.PK

iPad 2 in Pakistan

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 08:45 PM PST


iPad 2 in Pakistan is a post from: ProPakistani

By Muhammad Faisal / Aamir Attaa

ipad820gh3pres724005 thumb iPad 2 in Pakistan

Gadget lovers in Pakistan are desperate to get their hands on iPad 2, however, those who had bought iPad (1) are somewhat confused about their current/old iPads. This is due to a fact that iPad 2 (WiFi only version) comes with the same price as of iPad 1.

Now, as in Pakistan, we don't have 3G, so vendors will ship WiFi only version of iPad 2.

When to Expect iPad 2 in Pakistan?

We don't have any words from vendors about the availability of iPad in Pakistan. However, we have heard from various online retailors that iPad 2 will be made available in Pakistan by late March. In fact HomeShopping is claiming that iPad 2 will hit their stores in Pakistan on March 17th, 2011.

iPad 2 Price in Pakistan?

HomeShopping.PK is already accepting pre-orders, they are offering iPad 2 (WiFi only – 16 GB) in Pakistan at the price of Rs. Rs 69,990/ - Rs. 74,990

Anticipated iPad 2 Prices in Pakistan:

iPad 2 3G Price in Pakistan: 16GB: Rs. 75,000, 32GB: Rs. 85,000, 64GB: Rs. 95,000

iPad 2 WiFi Price in Pakistan: 16GB: Rs. 65,000, 32GB: Rs. 72,000, 64GB: Rs. 83,000

Just in case, if you missed yesterday's conference by Apple,  where the New iPad which is known as iPad 2 was introduced, following are few details about it.

A new birth in the Apple family and as usual it's beautiful. We even have choices of Black or White and this time the "White iPad 2" will be available from the first date of launch whereas we are still finding iPhone 4 White.

It’s lighter in weight then the previous one (1.3 pounds from 1.5 pounds previous). It's even thinner then the iPhone, 4 which is 13.4 millimeters where as iPad 2 is 8.8 millimeters. As what Steve Jobs said it's the 3rd thinner.

The biggest feature is the “A5 Chip” introduced by Apple, It’s a Dual Core Processor, up to 2x faster CPU and up to 9x faster graphics. It’s the first dual core tablet in the market.

ipad820gh3pres724002 iPad 2 in Pakistan

As predicted it’s with dual camera, front VGA and features to take self snaps via Photo Booth App (which is by Apple with various filters). We have Facetime now in the iPad 2 which is just ideal by its size for Facetiming as said in the conference.

The rear / back camera is 720 p capability standard which is again a big improvement to this new product.

ipad820gh3pres724003 iPad 2 in Pakistan

HDMI cable (US$39) mirrored video output upto 1080p, works with all apps, supports rotation, 10 hours battery time and charges your iPad while using.

A new Smartcover has also been introduced officially by Apple, which features to magnetically attach and folds down to support the iPad 2 to lift it up or stand while being kept somewhere, whereas in normal situation it protects the screen. It's actually to remove the hectic of pouches, bags etc and still keep it awesome.

ipad820gh3pres724004 iPad 2 in Pakistan

Apple has announced for the iPad 2 to reach the outlets on 11th March 2011 within U.S whereas in the time period of 2 weeks later, it will be out in 26 countries. The price is same as the first iPad.

iPad 2 will be with the new iOS that is to be 4.3 which promises to enable better performance to the new hot product in market.

The Major Improved Performance will be in Safari Browser, iTunes Home Sharing and couple of Airplay improvements.

Comparison1 iPad 2 in Pakistan

Comparison Via iJafri

And following is the video of launch event of iPad 2

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Copyright © 2010 ProPakistani.PK

SMS packages: A Tool to Capture and Retain Customers

Posted: 03 Mar 2011 08:30 PM PST


SMS packages: A Tool to Capture and Retain Customers is a post from: ProPakistani

As young population of Mobile phone users is continuously on the rise in Pakistan, Cellular companies are introducing new SMS packages every other day to hold the subscribers.

In fact SMS has become easy bait for all these cellular companies to hold their subscribers. The prime example of this phenomenon is Ufone, which is leading the SMS race in the country.

Here is the Comparison of all SMS packages offered by cellular companies:

Note: You may need to choose a specific package to avail following mentioned SMS bundles. Not all packages of respective operators may support following deals.

Please check respective operators and their packages for detailed information.

Price SMS Validity
8.37 (Inc.tax) 1200 7 days
29.88 (Inc. tax) 3500 15 days
59.75 (Inc.tax) 7500 30 days
1.79 (Inc.tax) 200 1 day 24 hours

  • Telenor TalkShawk
Price SMS Validity
5+ Tax 200 5 days
10+Tax 450 15 days
30+Tax 1500 15 days
2.5 + Tax 150 24 hours
  • Ufone
Price SMS Validity
6.99+Tax 1200 7 days
25+Tax 2500 14 days
80+Tax unlimited 30 days
3.99+Tax 500 24 hours
Price sums Validity
3.99 Plus Tax 500 24 hours
1.5 Plus tax 150 24 hours
6.99 Plus tax 1,200 7 Days
80 Plus Tax 8,000 30 Days
Price SMS Validity
10 1000 7 days
50 500 per day 15 days
80 500 per day 30 days
3.99 500+100 MMS 1 day 24 hours

  • Warid
Price SMS Validity
7.99+Tax 1000 7 days
6.99+Tax 700 7 days
2.99 250 1 day 24 hours

  • Warid also Offer Zen SMS Craze: Rs. 150 (inclusive of taxes) for 5000 SMS/MMS plus 10 MB of GPRS

There is not much of a difference in all these SMS packages offered by Cellular companies and it is getting cheaper day by day yet giving them more revenue by capturing more subscribers.

These cellular companies have made our youngsters addicted to the SMS mania and they can't afford to stay away from SMS any time.

Just to tell you few facts:

  • Pakistanis exchanged 151 billion text messages in year 2009 that is 1532 SMS per subscriber.
  • Pakistanis exchanged 128 text messages average per person in 2009 that is higher than 105 messages of world over all average of per person SMS sent in a month.
  • According to the International telecommunication Union (ITU) the globe is earning 14000 dollars every second from SMS that is, assuming an average cost of USD 0.07 per SMS .In 2010 SMS traffic was generating an average of USD 812000 per minute (USD 14000per second) from 5.3 billion global users.
  • Pakistan is ranked fifth in global SMS per subscriber per month list after Philippines 834 ranked first, U.S.A 464 ranked second, Sweden 149 ranked third, and U.K 142 ranked fourth.

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Copyright © 2010 ProPakistani.PK

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