Ufone Introduces Futura Phone with EVO Service: ProPakistani

Ufone Introduces Futura Phone with EVO Service
Nokia Tops all Brands in Pakistan: Nielsen Poll
ASR Rate Was Hiked Without Authority’s Approval, Alleges Member Finance
Microsoft Reveals Upcoming Windows Mobile OS: Mango

Ufone Introduces Futura Phone with EVO Service

Posted: 25 May 2011 10:45 AM PDT

Ufone Introduces Futura Phone with EVO Service is a post from: ProPakistani

Ufone is today launching a low end handset called 'Uth Futura', which is said to be a cheaper 3G alternate and an industry first device that support both GSM and CDMA EVDO REV A networks in parallel.

The killer features of this phone are:

It will use (Ufone's) GSM network for voice calls and SMS
Plus it will use PTCL's EVO network for data services, to be used with mobile plus it can work as EVDO modem – to be connected with PC to use EVO service.

So blended with the benefits of both the GSM and CDMA networks, you can have premium quality GSM coverage plus the high speed internet of 3.1 Mbps – in a single device.

EVO Tariffs for Ufone Futura

For GSM services, you will have to recharge your account with conventional Ufone cards or U-Share with usual tariffs that Ufone offers.

However, for Internet services, Ufone has partnered with PTCL offer exclusive per hour package to its customers.

Following are available packages:

Hourly Package: Rs. 25 per hour (Default Package)
Unlimited Monthly Package: Rs. 2,000 per month

Note: To use EVO Internet services, you will have to use PTCL Vouchers for recharge.

Features

QWERTY Keyboard
2.0 MP Camera
FM Radio
Audio/Video Player
Bluetooth 2.1
WAP/MMS/GPRS
262K 2.4"TFT
Micro SD Card Support up to 8 GB
Email (Built-in Gmail, Other Pop Accounts )
GPS Data (Only provides basic GPS data information, does not support Navigation feature.)
(EVDO Modem/Mass Storage)
Internal Memory: 34 MB
Snaptu
Nimbuzz
Mobile TV

Price

Ufone Futura is offered for Rs. 7,000
Ufone Futura is available through all Ufone Sales and Service Centers (Except Peshawar)
Ufone Futura is network locked
Ufone Futura comes with replaceable warranty of 6 months
Ufone Futura comes with 10 free EVO Internet Hours

We had a chance to speak with Mr. Faisal Khalid, who is Manager Marketing (VAS) at Ufone to ask him few questions about Ufone Futura phone, watch below the video:

Handset Accessories:

Ufone Futura will come with following accessories:

Stereo Head Phones
Battery and Charger
Data Cable
Modem Driver Disk
Handset Manual

Here are few pictures of Ufone Futura:

Nokia Tops all Brands in Pakistan: Nielsen Poll

Posted: 25 May 2011 03:15 AM PDT

Nokia Tops all Brands in Pakistan: Nielsen Poll is a post from: ProPakistani

nokia Nokia Tops all Brands in Pakistan: Nielsen Poll Nokia has emerged as top brand of the country across all 11 categories, according to The Nielsen Company’s research into the market, conducting face-to-face interviews with consumers across 22 cities in four provinces from 16 March to 1 April 2011.

During the research, both males and females representing age bracket of 18yrs – 45yrs and income group A, B, C & D were covered. The question asked during the research was

"What is your most favorite brand for a category?"

Ranking was then determined through the number of respondents who chose the brand as their most favorite.

Following Nokia in second place is local household appliance brand Dawlance. Soap brand Lux follows in third with tea brand Lipton and snacks brand Lays tied in four position.

Beverage brand Pepsi comes in fifth position, mobile service provider Ufone in sixth, local tea brand Tapal in seventh, milk brand Nestle Milkpak in eight and local biscuit brand Sooper in ninth position.

Expressing his views on the occasion, Imran Khalid Mahmood, Country GM, Nokia Pakistan & Afghanistan said

"We are honored to be in 1^st position in Nielsen's research report. It is a proud moment for us that Nokia is not only recognized as the most favourite brand, but is also the most commonly used brand across various segments of the Pakistani population.

We feel a sense of achievement in connecting so many Pakistani people every day from different walks of life. Nokia is highly committed to the Pakistani market and we hope to exceed consumer expectations going forward".

Commenting on the achievement, Adeel Hashmi, Communications Manager, Nokia Pakistan & Afghanistan said

"It is really an exciting moment for Nokia to be recognized as the Top brand in Pakistan by a reputable, independent research house. Nokia is committed to creating market-leading mobile products and services designed to offer consumers unrivalled choice and opportunity.

Our commitment is to continue to connect Pakistani consumers to what matters most to them through new and exciting mobile experiences".

Having achieved the top brand title in Brand Elections 2009 and Brand of the Year Awards 2009 & 2010, this is yet another remarkable feat for Nokia in Pakistan.

ASR Rate Was Hiked Without Authority’s Approval, Alleges Member Finance

Posted: 24 May 2011 11:46 PM PDT

ASR Rate Was Hiked Without Authority’s Approval, Alleges Member Finance is a post from: ProPakistani

Before we go to the real story, a little back ground first; I am sure that by now most of our readers are familiar with the ongoing clash between Chairman PTA and suspended Member Finance of PTA.

Just in case if you don't know – here's is how this all started and ended with the suspension of PTA's Member Finance against an inquiry for the accusations made by his own chairman.

In a recent most development, during the inquiry, Member Finance has reportedly submitted his response – along with counter allegations against Chairman PTA, and accused that many decisions of crucial nature were carried out without the approval of the authority.

According to "The News" one of such decisions that were approved by Chairman PTA were issuance of Approved Settlement Rates (ASR) Access Promotion Contribution (APC), which Member Finance claims were not approved by authority.

Just in case if you don't know – any regulation, or decision made by PTA is held approved only when majority of three top heads of authority agree with it.

Three heads include:

chairman PTA,
member finance
and member technical.

Here's what Pakistan Telecommunication Act 1996 (with 2006 amendments) says:

The powers of the Authority in the matters relating to its administration and the staff of the Authority shall be exercised by the Chairman.

The decision of the Authority shall be taken with the concurrence of the majority of its members.

Now according to suspended member finance, APC rates were hiked without following the proper procedures, as authority's approval wasn't there.

Following is the excerpt from "The News"

Before issuing revised rates usually on six monthly bases, detailed in-house analysis is carried out and then findings of this analysis are shared with all Long Distance International (LDI) operators and their views and comments are invited.

Based on the feedback of the LDI operators and analysis carried out by PTA, the ASR/APC rates are determined with the written approval of the authority.

In total disregard of this standard practice Chairman PTA Dr. Mohammad Yasin increased the rates in connivance with the DG (Commercial Affairs) without the written approval of the authority.

In this regard the report says that without issuing meeting minutes, the ASR/APC was revised upward from US$0.10 per minute to US$ 0.125 per minute against the wishes of the majority of stakeholders who wanted lowering of the rates to US$0.75.

No approval was taken though in the letter it is misstated that it was approved by the authority.

This increase in ASR/APC rates from US$ 0.10 per minute to US$ 0.125 per minute without approval of the authority unleashed floodgates of grey traffic, which is now hard to control, the report says.

It is contended that if ASR/APC were reduced to US$ 0.75 the grey trafficking would have decreased significantly.

Chairman PTA's single-handed action of increasing it is now causing loss of billions to national kitty and the International Telephony is now touching around 500 million minutes per month and as per some estimates around 30-40% minutes per month are engulfed by grey traffic which means around US$15 to $20 million are lost every month, as this traffic is not passing through normal channels.

Well these are just allegations for now, and PTA has said that it will send replies on all these allegations along with documentary evidence to Cabinet Division within due course of time.

But just to mention here, a story published in 'The Dawn' – back in June 2010, had attributed the increase in ASR rate with PPPP's government.

Paper had then said that increase in ASR had resulted into grey traffic valuing Rs. 30 billion a year. It further had said that leading beneficiaries of the grey traffic is a foreign company called Rodcom Europe (now being renamed as Hollywell Solutions), which is chaired by Rehman Malik, the sitting interior minister.

So the paper actually connected approved settlement rates (ASR) with PPP's government and said that despite the plans of lowering it, PTA increased ASR as soon as PPP joined the government in February 2008.

Only time and inquiry will tell the real story – but sure, things are not as simple as they seem.

Microsoft Reveals Upcoming Windows Mobile OS: Mango

Posted: 24 May 2011 11:32 PM PDT

Microsoft Reveals Upcoming Windows Mobile OS: Mango is a post from: ProPakistani

Windows Phone Mango 300x149 Microsoft Reveals Upcoming Windows Mobile OS: Mango Microsoft is up to introduce the next version of windows OS for mobile devices, specifically Windows Phone 7.

Version which is said to be code-named ‘Mango’ delivers 500+ new features and will be available for Windows Phone 7 customers this fall.

Good thing about this release is, it will be available for free.

Andy Lees, president of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft, said:

Seven months ago we started our mission to make smartphones smarter and easier for people to do more. With 'Mango,' Windows Phone takes a major step forward in redefining how people communicate and use apps and the Internet, giving you better results with less effort.

Mango will enable Windows Phone to expand into new markets and extend global reach and scale through support for a host of new languages and new partnerships with Acer, Fujitsu Limited and ZTE Corp.

Greg Sullivan, senior product manager of mobile communications at Microsoft, said:

When we looked ahead to the next release, we wanted to stay true to the principles of Windows Phone 7 – that software should get out of your way and quickly connect you to the things that matter most. Mango builds on the work that we did in Windows Phone 7 and extends a lot of key scenarios around communications, apps, and Internet experiences – with even more capability and a deeper level of integration.

Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President in Windows Phone shows off some of the new features coming in the Mango release of Windows Phone.