Google Plus is Losing Grip with Time!: ProPakistani

Google Plus is Losing Grip with Time!
Pakistan Imported Rs. 45 Billion Worth Handsets in 2010-11
ISPs Reluctant to Expand Despite Funding
NBP Makes Balochistan Completely Online Province

Posted: 08 Aug 2011 02:44 AM PDT

Many would not agree with what is stated above, but this is how I look at it: With each passing day Google Plus is losing users' interest, at least in Pakistan.

Google Plus seemed pretty decent yet dashing when it was launched. Invite-only trick did well for Google as it attracted millions of users in matter of days.

This was when everybody was rushing for invites to explore the wonders that Google Plus had to offer (some junkies even sold Google Plus invites online, BTW if you need one here's is a way).

But everyone know by now, the product was half baked and was probably launched before time to stand early in line. This half featured product didn't incentivize the users much. I agree that people can wait for the features to come-in, but their bread-limit is quickly nearing and soon they may stop preferring Google Plus over Facebook.

People could have easily left Google Plus long, that too long earlier, if the product wasn't from Google. Yes being from the house of Google is itself an advantage, this comes in addition to added value that dozens of Google services bring in for Google Plus. But even the Google or it's worthy products can't do much if Plus hasn't got any anything substantial in it.

The invite-only registrations has clearly lost the hopes of many, who may never return to Google Plus again. And those who were lucky enough to get in are complaining that their friends aren't there on Google Plus.

Absence of Brands and Businesses is one major factor that's not mobilizing the masses to get into Google Plus. We know that Google has plans of offering business solutions – but again, delay gonna get costly for Google.

Games, applications, public groups, or they may call it public circles and there is a lot that Google still needs to unveil to equally compete with Facebook.

I believe Google Plus wasn't meant for weird GIFs and some random videos only. Google should release the rest of features at earliest, they need to be quick, if they got to survive which they likely will.

Image via

Pakistan Imported Rs. 45 Billion Worth Handsets in 2010-11

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 10:01 PM PDT

Handset import bill of various brands, prices and features has been registered at Rs. 44.69 billion in the outgoing financial year (2010-11), up from Rs 26.44 billion import bill recorded during the same period previous year, said Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) in its latest stats.

FBS report said that the handsets sales and its imports surged substantially depicting the tremendous growth of 70 percent in the closing fiscal year 2010-11 compared with previous year.

The average monthly expense of handsets reached Rs 3.72 billion in FY 11 versus Rs 2.2 billion monthly import bill recorded in FY 10.

Analysts said the handsets growth in sales and imports is natural as the local demand has been growing side by side with increasing SIMs number of different operators. In addition, high priced smartphones are significantly contributing towards the overall value of the import bill.

Customers purchase gadgets with emerging trends, style and technology of the brands. They replace their handsets normally in one to two years depending on brands – whether it is Chinese or others.

Besides, demand and sales of handsets increase coupled by the snatched/theft cases and dysfunctional of gadgets in the local market.

Markets dealers said that sales of handsets have increased more than one million units per month, which stood almost half in the last fiscal year. The sales have picked up at accelerated pace with increasing demand in the local markets, particularly in the rural areas in addition to sales growth in big cities.

More than 80 percent of the handsets imports are carried out from China including Chinese brands and renowned brands. However, Chinese-made handsets gained lion share in the local markets owing to lower prices amid multiple features.

ISPs Reluctant to Expand Despite Funding

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 10:00 PM PDT

Telecom operators in Pakistan are reluctant to explore new regions/cities to stretch their coverage and services, despite funding option available through Universal Service Fund.

This is partially true for both telephony (mainly wireless) and broadband service providers, however, broadband operators need to give this issue the greater attention.

Cellular coverage in country is reasonable, though there is room available but most parts of the country are covered with one cellular operator at least. But when it comes to broadband services, it is apparent that there is lot to be done – there is a whole rural uncovered in terms of broadband.

After several off the record interviews with various industry tops, I can confidently say that operators want to capitalize their current infrastructure by focusing on current customers instead of expanding their coverage to new potential consumers, especially in less inhabitant areas.

Due to economic down turn and limited resources this attitude seems very natural. There is a clear reason for not expanding: cost involved for the infrastructure and then the running expanses are too frightening for them to get into new cities.

However, it becomes incomprehensible when these broadband operators back off even when there is an option of funding available to them through USF.

Just in case if you don't know, USF provides subsidy to telecom operators for lying down their network in far-flung, un-served or underserved regions of the country.

This funding includes initial cost for equipment and then declining OPEX (operating expense) for a certain period (three years usually) until these operators become sustainable.

But as I said above, all cellular operators (except Telenor) and broadband operators don't want to get involved in such projects, which is causing them the potential revenue loss plus a huge population of country remains deprived of the telecom services.

Let's take an example of this broadband operator; it's CEO told me that they find only few cities viable for doing business. He said that their decision for expanding coverage is based on various factors, most important of which is return on investment. He was clueless when I asked him the reason for not going with USF's funding for expansion.

With increasing saturation level, broadband operators (especially the wireless broadband operators) must consider this option of getting funds from USF to penetrate in new areas. And just as a warning: this funding option won't last for ever. So they need to hurry.

In fact we do have an example of PTCL, which has won around 50 percent of broadband projects launched by USF. Stats show that USF has brought 300,000 broadband subscribers (so far) out of 1.4 million total broadband subscribers in the country.

So according to estimates and the fact that PTCL has 50 percent of USF's broadband projects, one can predict that PTCL has got 150,000 subscribers out of it's total 600,000 subscribers through USF. that's 25% of total base.

Another interesting fact that this 300,000 broadband customer number is higher than the total subscriber count of all broadband operators, except PTCL.

So it's time for broadband operators to get going beyond the major cities – and it's only matter of time that their efforts will bring the return they are looking for. This will not only make a business sense at the end but will help gapping the digital divide with better national broadband access.

NBP Makes Balochistan Completely Online Province

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 09:58 PM PDT

In a major move towards automation, National Bank of Pakistan has converted all its branches on-line in Balochistan Province. This is in line with Bank's strategy to convert majority of its branches on-line by the end of this year for which work is going on at fast pace.

It is worth mentioning here that NBP is present in far off and remote areas of Balochistan which include Dera Bugti, Awaran, Kohlu, Barkhan, Turbat, Panjgur, Sorab, Qallat, Chaman, Loralai, Ormara, Harnai, Noshki, Dalbandin, Gandawah, Kharan, Saindak, Taftan, Othal, Bela and Muslim Bagh.

NBP has recently initiated a number of IT projects to make the bank one of the most technologically advanced financial institutions in the country. Currently the Bank is in the implementation phase of Core Banking System which is one of the largest IT projects in Pakistan and covers all the banking functions.

Qamar Hussain, President NBP, appreciated the efforts of Chief Information Officer, IT Manager Quetta and his team on this landmark achievement and expressed hope that very soon more branches will come online all over the country.