March 15, April 15, - 2009

Content
Editor's Note
Editorial 8

Reader's Response
Letters to the Editor 9

Interview
IT is suffering from lack of patronage 21
Car tracking system PTA has to do a lot: Chairman Trafco Group 44
Page
Telepedia
Senate committee in action against PTA rules breach 10
48
3G hot in telecom furnace 13
Increase in tax triggered smuggling 14
Sun running the cells 16
Hazards of cellular towers in residential area 20
Better late than never 22
Your palm set is now your doctor 27
Irked by crank calls? 37
Sun rises on handsets 72

Cover Story
Page
36 Now ensure your integrity with Alfalah Insurance
SMS The Preferred Choice of communication 48

InsighT
IDC's 10 major trends in 2009 11
Our youngsters in cyber world 18
Outsourcing in recession 29
Malicious inside attackers 30
Internet trafficking drugs 34
Is spying your child a solution? 38
Online gangs 39
Internet radio streaming online listeners 42
Privacy groups slam rules 69
Computers paining neck 71 Page
Lock your mobile information

Business
75
46
Heavy weights waiting White House 24 Wateen, with its remarkable growth, cuts the 4th cake!

Events
Trend changes the trends of CDMA 26
Now ensure your integrity with Alfalah Insurance 36
Wateen cuts its 4th cake 46
Global Mobile Awards 2009 64
Mobile World Congress 66
Alfalah Polo Cup 2009 83
CeBIT sparks the world 86 Page
Tech Tools
Up coming mobiles 52
26
Low range mobiles 55
Trend changing cellular trends with CDMA
Current mobiles 56
Mobile review 60
High range Mobiles 62
Latest laptops 63

Mosaic
National 77
International 80
Strange world 88

Synopsis
Press release 85
Press release 89
Press release 90
National 91
International 96
Page Page
86 66
6
CeBIT sparks the world Mobile World Congress
 March 15, - April 15, 2009

Editor s
NoteStay ahead by hook
or by crock
In Pakistan, there is always a race – if it’s not politics then it must
be showbiz, if not IT then telecom. Always a tussle or hustle bustle
in an air of competition. This race is of course nothing new in the Zubair Ahmed Kasuri Editor-in-Chief
world but in Pakistan it is going through exceptional phases.
Fatima Batool Editor
Spectators usually think that the service provided in competitive
surroundings is healthier for the subscribers but here the case is Usman Yaqoob
reverse. There is only quantitative competition that is run by least Marketing Manager (Lhr)
or no quality. M. Farooq Malik
Marketing Executive (Lhr)
Telecom service providers are consumed in their network Rashid Hussain Mughal
expansion by hook or by crock. They do not even bother how much Marketing Executive (Khi)
their customers suffer. They are going to show fake value added
packages on the activation of dead SIMs and/or on new SIMs,
without mentioning the part and parcel of proposed deal. Zafar Khan Afridi
With the crunch of finance, the frequency of mobile phone Senior Graphic Designer
packages slow down for the time being, but after few months all CreativeZone
operators of telecom sector are indulged in mere competition.
Similar packages of minor differences in paisas are offered. Public Khawar Shahzad
is lost in selecting better among the worst. Manager Islamabad Office
There is a new package, offer, deal every other day triggering Asmat Ullah
Content Coordinator
other operators for better superficial packages. Leg pulling is Azhar Javed
habitual. Mocking yet copying is remarkable. Everyone is looking General Manager
at the person he or she is competing with, subscribers are placed at Taimur Shafiq
the bottom like trash. Web Developer
Muhammad Saeed
We were/are expecting that Pakistan Telecommunication Chief Photographer
Authority (PTA) will regulate the operators to launch fair Mobile: 0321 - 8404389
advertisements but still it seems that the pathetic imitating
advertisements are beyond the control of PTA. Lahore Office
Ph: 042-5880183- Fax: + 92-042-5880184
One thing which I can never get is the significance of a show Islamabad Office
cause notice from the subscriber’s perspective. In case of Phone: + 92-51-2890054
mismanagement or hypocrisy, PTA issues notices to cellular service Fax: + 92-51-2891339
providers but can these notices return people their credit. There are Karachi Office
Phone: + 92-21-4602620
numerous examples of false rates and hidden charges and series of
show causes notices haunting these packages on customer’s Registration No
complaints. But can the fine or show cause notice is eligible to return PCPB/105
the stolen money. Our people are already crying under the burden
(Vol. 5 Issue:7)
of excessive charges and there are hidden/extra charges that pierce Price Rs: 300
them into pieces.
Recently, PTCL start to send short bills – a company barely URL: www.flare.com.pk
Email: flare.mag@gmail.com
surviving ill reputation is bold enough to take such a confident step.
Strange! People were so annoyed that they register frequent
complaints against this initiative, and finally PTA was bound to ask
PTCL to start sending detailed bills. Shameful! These private
companies are devoid of any national/social responsibility. They Zubair Ahmed Kasuri, publisher of FLARE
work for revenue, and unless or until they face extreme reactions
leading telecom magazine, printed it from
they continue to behave as selfishly as possible.
Much is expected from PTA’s initiative to launch inactive SIMs. Akkaz Printers, Shama Plaza, Lahore and
We hope that the law enforcing agencies will be able to stop published from 46-J, Gulberg III, Lahore.
terrorism by arresting the culprits. Senate Standing Committee has
finally decided to give heads of police departments an access to the
SIM and mobile data of suspected people. We hope that our beloved
country will be able to recover our lost integrity in near future!

8

Activate at your risk
On Jan 28, I purchased a SIM, but have been unable to use it since
then. Whenever I make a call to activate it, I hear an automated
voice message telling me that I am not authorised to activate the
SIM. I have called mobile service's helpline many times, but
managed to talk to a customer service officer just once. In short, I
have wasted money, time and patience in something as simple as
activating a SIM.
Shanza Faiq, Islamabad
PTCL bill
Now we, the valued customers', have been given the option to visit
the PTCL sales outlet or customer care centre in order to get the
itemised details of the bill. Only the PTCL knows what value it is
giving to its customers by depriving them of the details at ease and
forcing to visit the outlets.
Not everyone would be able to visit the centres and get details of the
relevant bill. Many would opt to remain silent and not suffer in the
heat of the day.
Adeel Vaid, Karachi
Where is the delivery report of Ufone?
I am using Ufone from a long time. For the very first time on last
Valentine, Ufone informed its subscribers via SMS that Delivery
Notification Service will be available for some 12 hours. It was a
healthy sign. But, suddenly, I don't know what happended! I wasn't
receiving delivery reports. I switch off/on my cell phone, but of no
use. Then I call 33 and to my surprise the operator told me that the
reports have been blocked by the company.
Why Ufone has done this? May be to abridge the heavy SMS traffic
but why doesn't it bother to inform? Without any newsletter, even
any SMS they blocked a service! Where do they actually place their
connection holders?
It's we who make these companies successful. We give them
revenue. We use them. We also have the right to up grade or replace
them. They must be responsible in tackling their subscribers.
Syed Israr ul Hassan, Lahore.
Good old PTCL
Another feather has been added to the cap of the PTCL. Hitherto,
the PTCL had been providing details of calls in the telephone bills.
Now we have to visit PTCL sales outlets and Customer Care
Centres to find out the details. Every good organisation is trying to
provide improved facilities to its customers. The PTCL just acted in
reverse.
Once again PTCL fails
Despite passage of 18 months, Pakistan Telecommunication
Company Limited (PTCL) is failed to provide a land line connection
in Lane-6, Rawalpindi.
Instead of providing land phone, the PTCL authorities have started
convincing for submitting an application for the Wireless
Connection.
I submitted an application for land phone to the Westridge
Exchange vide No. 546-07=0811 dated September 18, 2007. He
attached the stamp paper, affidavit and rental agreement etc. with
the application. When contacted, the PTCL officials confirmed that
normally such applications are processed in 15 days. However, they
advised me for submitting an application for Wireless Phone
connection which would be provided immediately.
Muhammad Saghear, Rawalpindi
A step backward by PTCL
It was shocking to see the PTCL bill for January received without
attachment of item wise details for international and mobile calls
made during the billing period, with the advice to contact any of its
customer care centres for obtaining such details.
That the 'system not implemented' reply from its Chundrigar Road
Centre (letter by Cyrus R. Cowasjee on Feb 18) is unbelievable and
provides evidence that the PTCL does not care for its subscribers.
Regardless of whether the PTCL implements the 'system' soon or
not, it remains a fact that subscribers will have to sacrifice precious
time out of their busy schedules to visit PTCL centres every month. I
ask PTCL bosses: why cause this inconvenience to your 'valued'
customers? Is this not a big step backward? Is withdrawing a good
service of providing details with the monthly bills, and making your
subscribers to run to your centres, an act worth any appreciation?
It is sincerely hoped that the PTCL bosses shall review this decision
and re-start providing item wise details, at least of international calls,
with the monthly bills and save their valued customers from the
unwarranted inconvenience.
Najam, Karachi
Telecom engineers face joblessness
The field of telecommunications brought a revolution in the last
decade in Pakistan. Different national or multinational companies
offered cellular networks to avail the wide range of facilities
(communication) across the country.
For this reason, different premier universities introduced such
emerging fields for providing the engineers to pursue the services
along with guidance through telecommunications experts. Now,
when such fields seem to be decaying due to the economic crisis and
saturation, there is lack of job opportunities for telecom engineers,
too.
If they offer jobs, they require a couple of years experience, otherwise
one has to have effective sources to get the job. I don't think that
every institute, whether it is private or government, would be
providing essential equipments for practice in telecommunications
(through cable, telegraph, telephone or broadcasting) thus the
students face problems regarding practical and theory work as well.
I would request officials of major companies to give an opportunity
for internship to students in order for them to learn under their able
guidance.
Fayaz Hussain Magi via email.
PTCL phone bills
This month's telephone bills have arrived without details of calls as
hitherto received. Instead a message states: “Dear valued customer,
you can get itemised details of your bill by visiting any PTCL sales
outlets and customer care centres.” Why has this new mode been
adopted to deprive subscribers their right to scrutinise their bills?
A visit to the customer care centre on Chundrigar Road the other day
elicited the reply: “System not yet implemented”. The PTCL must
resume issuing bills with details immediately should they claim to be
a transparent organisation.
Cyrus R. Cowasjee, Karachi
Tax on mobile phone cards
With reference to the letter "Living in the Land of the Pure", the
writer objects to the deduction of Rs15 as tax by the government for
every hundred rupees on pre-paid mobile phone cards. The
government is compelled to do this because in our country there are
worthy citizens who object to paying their taxes. If the government
could successfully recover VAT from retailers and sales tax from
smugglers, there would be no need for it to resort to other methods
like taxes on petrol and other commodities.
Shakir Lakhani, Karachi
9
 Telepedia Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

S
enate Standing Committee on Interior
lamented the authorities of Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
and Interior Ministry to take stern
action against those who violate the rules set
by the PTA and Ministry of Information
Technology (IT) for registration of non-
activated subscriber identity modules (SIMs).
The meeting held under the chairmanship
of Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, on
March 7, 2009 and reviewed the progress on
the issue of untraced and unverified SIMs,
online verification system introduced and
other related issues.
Member of the Committee were of the view
that unauthorised and unverified mobile
phone connections have played havoc with
the dacoity and have contributed to worsen
the law and order situation in the country.
They called upon PTA and NADRA to
keep the interests of the country on top
priority and ensure proper verification of all
connections that were being issued. It was
pointed out that the incidents of kidnapping,
murders and terrorists activities were on the
rise for which there was dire need to work
jointly and root-out such evils in the society.
The Committee expressed its satisfaction
when it was informed that online verification
system has been put in place by NADRA to
verify all the connections. However, the
Committee underlined the need for a strict
monitoring mechanism to avoid mishap in
future. It also suggested that a senior police
officer of SP level should be given access to Senator Talha Mahmood informed that Senate Standing
the mobile phone data-base with a view to
trace the SIMs being used in crimes and other
Committee has given one month deadline to the
unlawful activities. Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
Earlier, the Secretary Interior, Chairman
PTA, Chairman NADRA informed the to register all unregistered and illegal SIMs
Committee about the steps taken to verify the
phone connection. Meanwhile, Chairman
illegal and unregistered SIMs were blocked by SIMs have been blocked from February 1.
Senate Standing Committee on Interior
the PTA. Till January 31, 11.2 million illegal Million of SIMs have been confirmed by
Senator Talha Mahmood informed the Senate
SIMs were blocked while 1.99 million SIMs NADRA and show cause notices have been
Body has given a one-month deadline to the
were applied for new registration during the served to mobile companies over not blocking
Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication
month of February out of which around 0.4 unregistered SIMs and data has been
Authority (PTA) Dr Mohammad Yaseen to
million were rejected while 1.547 million were summoned within one week, he added.
register all the unregistered and illegal SIMs.
successfully registered," he said. Chairman NADRA further told that details
He said despite some problems, experience have been sought from Ministry of
It also suggested that a of the sale of un-activated SIMs was going Information Technology and PTA over issuing
greatly and this would help counter the of eight million mobile connections to
senior police officer of SP terrorist activities across the country. "Though unknown users.
level should be given the Chairman PTA claims that all is well, there Earlier, it is noted that Adviser to the
are still some irregularities. SSP Rawalpindi Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has
access to the mobile phone informed the committee that 182 SIMs had said that all unregistered SIMs would be
data-base with a view to been registered against one Imran Ali. The blocked after March 31, 2009. About the
Committee has sought report from the PTA existing unregistered SIMs, he said messages
trace the SIMs being used in within five days," he added. would be sent to users of unregistered SIMs
crimes and other unlawful “The authorities of Ministry of Information and if they failed to fulfil the registration
activities Technology have not provided the data to the process, the number would be blocked.
NADRA of around eight million SIMs. They The government has given many deadlines
have been directed to do so and report to the to block illegal SIMs and extended the date.
Briefing the media at the Parliament House
committee." What is the parameter to check the illegal
after the meeting of the committee, Senator
Chairman PTA told the committee that SIMs issued by the companies? There are
Talha said the committee remained successful
new system has been introduced in Pakistan many reports that million of SIMs issued on
in helping the government bring crime rate
and no SIM is activated without confirmation, fake and stolen ID cards. The PTA should take
down across the country by ensuring blocking
adding 1.5 million connections were given in revolutionary steps to fight against illegal
of millions of illegal SIMs.
three months from November 1, 2008 to SIMS matter and resolve the
"During past few months, millions of
10 February 2009 while pre-active unregistered issue as soon.

Free download | flare.com.pk
IDC’s 10 major trends
to shape Asia-Pacific
telecoms in 2009
The report draws upon the latest researches and worldwide
brainstorming exercises among its over 900 analysts. This
was followed by an extensive regional review to weigh in on
key industry events, user trends, vendor strategies and
economic measures, that promises to uniquely define the
technology trends which would impact and drive the
telecoms market in the Asia-Pacific
he latest predictions of market research
T
firm IDC for the telecommunications
and networking industry in the Asia-
Pacific (excluding Japan) break away
from the gloom-and-doom scenario industry
players might have come to expect this year.
Despite the major global economic hiccup
that’s making industries hunker down and turn
off the investment switch, IDC believes industry
players across the region will weather the
downturn as carriers and larger corporations
focus on investing in strategic projects and
technologies, enabling the creation and launch of
new innovative services and products.
Offering optimism in times of crisis, IDC’s top
10 telecom predictions for 2009 released this
month, represent major trends to have the most
significant financial impact or long-term market
effects across the Asia-Pacific.
From IDC’s Singapore and Hong Kong
offices, researchers believe the following would
be the possible developments to shape the
telecoms industry in the Asia-Pacific (except
Japan) in the next 10 months:
1. Reviewing operator strategies to combat
recession
Spending for telecom bandwidth and
networking equipment could contract this year
as carriers delay rollout of emerging
technologies to help deal with recession. In a
recession, IDC expects consumers to be more
careful about signing up for new services and
SMEs and large enterprises will curtail spending
growth in new telecom bandwidth and
networking infrastructure.
In the case of severe recession, markets will
be characterised by significant job losses and
bankruptcies among SMEs and enterprises. IDC
sees only a moderate four per cent growth in the
carrier equipment market this year, with the
total market reaching US$ 52.7 billion.
In a recession, IDC expects con-
sumers to be more careful about
signing up for new services and
SMEs and large enterprises will cur-
tail spending growth in new telecom
bandwidth and networking infra-
structure
2. Virtual collaboration rises to the occasion
Service providers could see good demand for
unified communications services this year as
more enterprises struggle to maintain smooth
business processes and collaborations in a highly
distributed and mobile environment.
IDC expects the telecom services market in
the Asia-Pacific (except Japan) to reach US$ 253
billion in 2009, representing a growth rate of 8.9
per cent.
3. Virtualisation and optimisation at the
datacentre
For most enterprises, the cost of running and
operating a datacentre is one of the most
resource-draining and expensive endeavours.
With the economic downturn, IT managers are
faced with the challenges of lowering overall
operational cost and delivering improved
application performance.
IDC believes that organisations familiar with
server and storage virtualisations will start to
turn to the networks for further cost savings.
Networks will be the next frontier in datacentre
virtualisation.
IDC expects spending in enterprise networks
to grow by nine percent this year to reach $10.3
billion. Continued spending in datacenter
networks and migration to an all-IP platform
will drive this growth.
4. Femtocells the saving grace for incumbent
operators
More people now rely on portable gadgets to
get their work done and operators must feed this
trend with improved bandwidth coverage. For
operators that have licenses to provide both
fixed and mobile services, as well as the
necessary capital to fund upgrades of their
networks, IDC believes that femtocells might
help them offer scalable solutions to improve
network coverage.
Flare Report Telepedia
5. The age of Software-Defined Radios
Carriers are finding it increasingly costly to
extend their services to either mobile broadband
and/or fixed broadband. Managing multiple
base station equipment from either the same or
multiple vendors is becoming cost-inefficient.
IDC believes that implementing Software-
Defined Radios (SDR), a software module that
provides greater flexibility and functionality as
compared to their hardwired counterparts, can
help operators better manage their base stations.
6. Alternative broadband for small businesses
Many small businesses have leveraged the
available 3G networks and the existing mobile
broadband using HSPA technology for their
mobile network. This makes better business
sense as opposed to paying for a more expensive
fixed-line business broadband access.
7. Moving the wireless backhaul to IP
IDC believes mobile operators looking at
deploying Next Generation Network (NGN)
equipment that offers scalable bandwidth and
new multimedia-rich wireless services should
migrate this year to an IP environment to
address bandwidth constraints.
8. Converged network operation centres
Most integrated carriers in the Asia-Pacific
have separate network operation centres (NOC)
for each of their services and, if more than one
supplier is being used, there would be a NOC for
each vendor network, too. Because of this, IDC
sees the implementation of the converged NOC
as the next logical step in the evolution to next-
generation and convergence service
infrastructure.
9. Resurrection of SaaS
The global economic slowdown has resulted
in industry players intensifying their cost
management agenda, leading to a paradigm
shift from capital expenditure to operating
expenditure. This creates renewed opportunity
for Software as a Service (SaaS), which offers low
upfront capital outlay and the simplicity of
scaling up and down.
10. Time for Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop
Multiplexer
The rollout of Standard Definition TV, High
Definition TV, Video on Demand (VoD) and
more mature Metro Ethernet services means
heavier data transactions in the network. IDC
believes that the Reconfigurable Optical Add-
Drop Multiplexer (ROADM) now offers an
intelligent solution for better network
management.
Of course, the quickest way to ride the
current economic storm is to tighten budgets.
IDC, however, stressed that investments should
still continue not to affect the long-term growth
potentials of the regional telecom industry. 11
 InsighT Flare Report
he poor law and order situation, increase
T
in sales tax and imposition of import
duty on computers have badly effected
the foreign direct investment (FDI) in
information technology services and hardware
during the first seven months of current fiscal
year (July-January 2008-09).
Industry sources and analysts said that
imposition of 16 per cent GST and 5 per cent
import duty on IT sector during current fiscal
year have affected the FDI growth in IT sector.
According to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) report,
FDI in hardware has declined to US$ 0.5 million
in July 08 to January 09 period against US$1.1
million in corresponding period of last year,
showing a decrease of 52.1 per cent.
Foreign Direct Investment in communication
sector has increased to US$ 763 million during
the period under review, against US$ 751 million
in corresponding period, registering an increase
of 1.7 per cent.
Break-up of the report revealed that FDI in
telecommunication sector has increased from
US$665.8 million to US$708.5 million, showing
an increase of 6.4 per cent. Contrary to this, FDI
in the IT has decreased from US$ 81.9 million in
pervious period to US$53.3 million, showing a
decrease of 34.9 per cent during the period under
review.
The brands including
Microsoft, Acer and HB
have cancelled their future
plans of investment in
Pakistan due to law and
order situation
According to President Pakistan Computer
Association (PCA) Munawar Iqbal, who is also
an importer of computer hardware, said that
computer industry was affected by the 16 per
12 cent increase in GST and five per cent import
According to SBP report, FDI in hardware has declined to
US$ 0.5 million in July 08 to January 09 period against
US$1.1 million in corresponding period of last year,
showing a decrease of 52.1per cent
duty which was imposed in last budget. The
fiscal policy has also affected the Foreign Private
Direct Investment in Hardware development.
He said that the accumulated effect of the 16
per cent GST and 5 per cent import duty is
around 21 percent in the form of duties and
taxes. It has affected the purchasing power of the
people especially of the end users. As a result of
overall increase in taxes, the demand of most
hardware has decreased during 2008-2009.
However, the FDI has increased in some
areas, as the SBP report revealed. The FDI during
the period under review has witnessed an
increase of 108 per cent in software development
as FDI in the period has increased to US$ 15.4
million against the US$7.4 million of
corresponding period.
Analysts attributed the over 100 per cent
increase in FDI in software development to the
overseas Pakistanis from the US, UK and other
European countries, who are still investing in
Pakistan in the shape of IT Park with particular
focus on software development.
However, this investment was still less as
compared to the projections for 2008-2009.
Similarly the SBP report shows that FDI in IT
services of the country has decreased from US$
73.4 million to US$ 37.4 million during the
period, showing a decrease of 49.1 per cent.
Despite the country's weakened reputation
with foreign companies as a result of continued
political uncertainty and a perceived threat from
extremism, Pakistan's economy has latent
potential and has begun to reward foreign
investors brave enough to enter.
Recent encouraging signs in telecom and IT
outsourcing have further strengthened Pakistan's
case. Industries which offer promising
opportunities for investment include telecom, IT,
agricultural industries, engineering,
construction, power, oil and gas exploration,
fisheries and food processing.
Pakistan's major sources of FDI have been the
United States, the United Kingdom, the United
Arab Emirates and Japan. The principal sectors
attracting FDI thus far are financial services, oil
and gas exploration, power, trade, transport,
storage and communications, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals and fertilisers and textiles.

Free download | flare.com.pk
Microsoft joins
hands with FIA
icrosoft and Federal Investigation
M Agency jointly organised a training
session for FIA officials to increase
their awareness of copyright in-
fringement. The session was aimed at identifi-
cation of different forms of copyright
infringement, detection of counterfeit software,
and investigation of software evidence to prose-
cute culprits in the court.
Country Manager Microsoft Pakistan Kamal
Ahmed briefed on Microsoft’s commitment to
safeguarding interests of the consumers and
said, “The ability of the government and IT
ecosystem to create new jobs and a better qual-
ity of life through IT is strongly effected by how
they handle piracy.”
In the year 2008, Economist Intelligence Unit
sponsored by the Business Software Alliance
downgraded IT competitiveness of Pakistan to
62nd. An alarmingly high rate of software
piracy which stands at 84 per cent negatively
impacted FDI in the software industry and re-
search and development within the economy.
Corporate Attorney, Anti-piracy Microsoft,
Middle East and Africa, Dale Waterman,
presided the session and said, “The commit-
ment of FIA in countering software piracy
sends a very clear message to counterfeiters
that Pakistani government is serious about
stopping this form of criminality and are will-
ing to protect their citizens from the harm
caused by pirated as well as counterfeit soft-
ware.”
Mir Zubair Mahmood Director FIA Sindh in-
formed the participants of recent initiatives of
FIA in countering crimes of piracy and counter-
feit. Mir Zubair said, “In an environment which
is highly prone to counterfeit or pirated soft-
ware, the local software companies are unable
to compete on a level playing field. This lack of
opportunity prevents them from competing in
the international arena and attracting the much
required investments in our country.”

Free download | flare.com.pk
3G hot in cellular furnace
Pakistan now has a higher concentration of cellular
networks with amazing services - GPRS, voice and
message services at competitive rates besides multimedia
messaging and much more. But, all that is probably
nothing compared to what has been brewing in the cellular
sector. Cellular giants are preparing to spice things up,
under a single roof with 3G
ne of the nicest things of the last
O
government was to open up the
market for cellular phone
companies. That was some four
years ago. Under pressure of competition, the
sector leapfrogged to almost the front of the
regional pack.
Pakistan now has a higher concentration of
cellular networks with amazing services -
GPRS, voice and message services at
competitive rates besides multimedia
messaging and much more. But all that is
probably nothing compared to what has been
brewing in the cellular sector. Cellular giants
are preparing to spice things up, under a single
roof with 3G.
“3G stands for third generation of
communications. First generation was only
limited to voice while second generation (2G)
brought in data capabilities such as SMS,” said
Mobilink’s Imran Janjua.
“It (3G) enables users to access high speed
internet in addition to certain premium services
like video calling, gaming and mobile TV, etc.,”
Janjua added.
In a country of 160 million only 150,000 to
200,000 people were fortunate enough to
access/afford broadband internet. Across the
world, broadband had served as impetus to
improve education, health care, business,
enterprise, and other productivity indicators.
However, broadband growth in Pakistan
remained slow.
Trying to push mobile services forward,
Telenor believed, 3G offered broadband
connectivity over mobile networks and could
stimulate internet penetration in Pakistan.
“Time for 3G is now. However, to reap
significant economic, technological and
communication benefits of this service,
government and regulators need to keep
auction price in check,” said a senior Telenor
official.
Echoing along similar lines, Ufone also saw
the time ripe for 3G. Ufone was of the view that
broadband market had witnessed a significant
growth in last 12 months, crossing 200,000
subscribers with the launch of wireless
broadband services.
“But with launch of 3G by GSM operators,
market is expected to witness major growth in
broadband penetration. Only 3G will bring the
critical mass behind broadband which is not
available to WiMax or landline operators,”
Ufone Head of Public Relations Moazzam Ali
Khan predicted.
Globally there were more than 200 operators
offering 3G services in approximately 40
countries. This number would multiply once
China and India commercially launched their
3G services. 3G services were successful in
countries with high literacy rate coupled with
Flare Report Telepedia
data hungry population.
Although 3G is believed to revolutionise
communication, the market is currently
dominated by voice and SMS. GPRS usage was
only a fraction of the overall revenue. This was
primarily due to illiteracy and lack of
awareness about using the service or the
handset. Statistics on broadband subscribers in
the country indicated lack of interest towards
high speed internet usage.
According to experts, 3G was certainly an
indicator of technological advancement.
However, license cost could be the biggest
impediment for operators to root for 3G at a
time of global economic slowdown.
“A high license fee will mean higher costs at
users’ end, reducing affordability. While the
industry is supportive of bringing in new
technologies and to keep Pakistan at par with
hi-tech developments elsewhere, there is
nervousness about on investments,” said one
senior Mobilink official.
Although set to go for 3G, Warid did not see
Pakistani market ready for the technology
either. Warid believed that all cellular
companies were currently focused on investing
in remote areas to connect un-served people,
who needed connectivity for basic services.
“Plus on average, 3G sets cost over Rs
50,000. This makes 3G services a commodity for
very few people,” one senior Warid
representative said. He added that the
feasibility of 3G services in Pakistan will
depend very much on the license fee.
Broadband connectivity and high speed data
services could be offered by mobile operators
using GPRS/Edge technology which required
minimum investment and most of the available
handsets in the market did support GPRS and
Edge, she said.
3G critics were, pessimistic about the future
of 3G in Pakistan at present. “3G is more than
latest technology. 3G is about education and
knowledge and it’s meant for educated
In a country of 160 million
only 150,000 to 200,000
people were fortunate
enough to access/afford
broadband internet
masses,” said Mohsin J., who is founder of
Zumbeel, the biggest Telecom Engineering Web
Community of Pakistan.
It’s all about the content mobile companies
provide them. 3G was launched in the UK eight
years ago. They are still struggling to make it
work,” Mohsin elaborated. Nonetheless, the
government still had no defined procedure to
sell 3G licences, said a PTA official.
“There will be three licences only for the five
cellular operators who must have the right
spectrums. 3G is working well in other
countries. Pakistani users must have latest
technology and with this view 3G is being
launched,” he said.

13
 Telepedia Shafqat Ullah Free download | flare.com.pk

he current rate for mobile Meanwhile, mobile phone

T phones in Pakistan
encourages smuggling
and depresses formal
imports, causing huge loss of
revenue instead of targeted gains
dealers and shopkeepers have
started fleecing the consumers by
charging additional amount
ranging between Rs 500-700 on
available stocks of mobile sets
to the exchequer in duty after the government imposed
collection. customs duty worth Rs 500 on the
Supported by high tariffs, import of mobile phones in the
rampant smuggling of mobile national budget.
phones is going on for the last The dealers are charging extra-
seven months which has not only amount on the sets on which they
caused a huge revenue loss to the had not paid any duty thus
national exchequer but also minting millions just after one
crippled regular retail trade in the simple announcement in the
domestic market. budget. Bulk importers had
According to official figures, predicted that the imposition of
import of mobile phones through duty would encourage smuggling.
official channels during the first Dealers have pulled out of the
seven months (July 2008-January market huge number of mobile
09) of the current fiscal year sets a week ago after it was
touched record bottom. speculated that the government
When there had been no was to impose duty on the mobile
customs and regulatory duty on sets in the federal budget. They
import of mobile phones, huge withdrew from the market a huge
demand of domestic market was bulk of sets in order to mint
met through regular imports. money if the speculation proved
However, the government true. The imported consignments
imposed Rs 500 customs duty per carrying mobile phones and
set on import of mobile phones in wireless phone sets are being
budget 2008-09. Subsequently, smuggled and freely entered into
the Federal Board of Revenue in the country by showing/labelling
August 2008 further imposed Rs those sets refurnished or scraped
250 per set as regulatory duty without bringing into the notice of
(R/D). the high custom authorities.
The primary objective of the It seems that the FBR revenue-
government to impose duty and drive moves to put a damper on
R/D was to generate revenue and imports of non essential and
meet the budgetary gap. luxury items could not give
However, it seems this could not desired results but it would
be achieved. On the contrary it encourage the hoarding and
gave way to smugglers who took illegal trade of such types of
full advantage of price difference electronics goods. But, the other
and met domestic market side of the coin shows this
demand by supplying smuggled taxation decision would mitigate
cell phones at cheaper price. Drastically reduced import of mobile phones at the rate of street crime to some
According to market sources, 1.972 million sets through official channels extent.
smugglers are supplying mobile According to the market
phone sets at a margin of Rs 300 collected Rs 795 in duty and regulatory duty dealers, the rumour, that FBR may
to Rs 350 against officially during last seven month whereas there had been withdraw the raise of customs
imported sets which have to pay duty rate on imported mobile
customs duty and R/D at Rs 750 imports of 7.772 million sets in the same period phones is creating unrest among
per set. As a result of this, large the respective dealers as their
business houses representing
last fiscal year when imports were duty free sales business has badly affected
popular brands of multinational and most of the dealers are
smuggled in large quantities.
companies having big setups to import mobile seriously thinking over the change of this
He further said that wrong policy did not
phones from leading manufacturers of Europe business.
only damage regular trade of mobile phones but
and Far Eastern countries suffered huge losses As far as the consumers are concerned,
also deprived national exchequer of revenue. On
and went for lay-offs. majority of them use to get emerging and
average, he said smugglers’ margin is between
A leading representative of a popular brand advanced cellular phone technology regardless
Rs 300 to Rs 350 and if the FBR reduces duty and
from Far Eastern country raised this issue their purchasing power, therefore, they would
during a recent meeting at KATI with the FBR suffer further by the restriction of said phones
Chairman Ahmad Waqar. The customs figures After the budget 2008-09 the into the country, sources added.
show that import of mobile phones during July The mobile goods import which is taken
2008 to January 2009 dropped to 1.972 million or
carry amount has been place/traded by brokers from Dubai who
293 per cent from 7.779 million imported in the increased by Rs 50 to Rs usually uses small bags having all brands
same period last year. ranging from cheaper or low-priced to
Import of mobile phones which are sensitive 150 from Rs 100 in the last expensive are carried to the ports and being
and small in size are made through air freight fiscal year asked for paying "carry" amount to the
units (AFU) of major airports of the country. But distributors , wholesalers and vendors. After the
bulk of import is made through Karachi and budget 2008-09 the carry amount has been
R/D to Rs 400 per set it could have collected
Lahore AFU. A representative of a popular increased by Rs 50 to Rs 150 from Rs 100 in the
better revenues as the margin would not have
brand requesting anonymity told that for the last last fiscal year.

been attractive enough for smugglers.
14 seven months mobile phones were being
 Technobabble Fahim Ullah Khanzada Free download | flare.com.pk

One of the techniques,

popular in telecom circles
nowadays, for running the
Base Stations is Solar
Energy which in addition to
renewable and everlasting is
also green or eco-friendly.
Some of the major advances
in this regard are mentioned
in the lines to be followed
Pakistan in 2007-08, according to PTA.
Operating Power of Mobile Telecom
Networks comes from either electric-grids run
by Water and Power Development Authority
(WAPDA), in the case of Pakistan or privately
owned/leased diesel-fuelled generators, called
Gensets in telecommunication terminology. In
the situation of power outages by WAPDA,
which increased to 10 hours in summer of 2008,
Gensets serve as alternate but they have
typically limited life due to likelihood of poor
fuel, transportation challenges, disposition to
thefts and poor maintenance etc.
Based on approximate figures, a typical Base
Station costs nearly $100,000 and requires 3000
Watts to run, excluding the Base Station
Controller (BSC) and Mobile Switching Centre
Humans have been using energy from sun for cooking and (MSC). One of the techniques, popular in
warmth for centuries. Due to technological advances solar telecom circles nowadays, for running the Base
Stations is Solar Energy which in addition to
energy is being used for heating, cooking, production of renewable and everlasting is also green or eco-
hydrogen and electric power generation, to name the few. friendly. Some of the major advances in this
regard are mentioned in the lines to be followed.
To contribute toward tackling energy crisis, engineers and Alcatel-Lucent announced to have powered
technologists are devising ways to power Base Stations, its 200th radio site including BTS, microwave
and other electrical components with solar
integral and the most power consuming equipments of a power in the first quarter of 2008. The site
cellular network, through alternate and renewable energy provides coverage to remote population on
some islets of Senegal which had not any access
resources to wireless communications previously. Easily
deployable, the system stipulates only few solar
uring the last century, world suburbia, countryside and mountainous areas.

D
panels and consumes low energy,
population increased near four folds With over twenty thousand towers erected comparatively.
and the energy usage multiplied throughout the country, cellular phone Humans have been using energy from sun
about twenty times. According to companies have access to only 61 per cent of for cooking and warmth for centuries. Due to
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), their target market according to estimates of technological advances solar energy is being
one of the foremost challenges, Pakistan will be Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). used for heating, cooking, production of
facing in future is the supply of adequate The companies are in vigorous competition to
energy. get touched by the rest of
According to Vision 2030 of the Planning 39 per cent and it is a step
Commission, the reserves of natural gas which toward development of One of the solar powered BTS's
contribute about 50 per cent of energy to country both
Pakistan, will start declining within the next technologically and
decade and the storage capacity of dams is economically. The total
reducing due to silting e.g. the capacity of number of mobile-phone
Tarbela Dam has decreased by 27 per cent. Some users projected from 22
careful estimates expect the demand and supply million at beginning of 2006
gap to reach up to 8,000 Mega Watts by 2010. to 77 million at the end of
On the other hand, the dependency on 2007.
electric power is also increasing with the London Business School
projected usage of electronic equipments, cell estimates that an increase
phones being the major players. Since the of 10 mobile phones per 100
introduction of Insta and Paktel mobile phones people boosts GDP growth
based on Analog Mobile Phone System (AMPS) by 0.6 per cent and
technology in the second half of 1990’s, Pakistan telecommunication alone
is witnessing continued growth of cell phone contributed to 27.92 per
subscribers. The operators have been constantly cent of the total foreign
expanding network coverage in small cities, direct investment (FDI) of
16
Free download | flare.com.pk Technobabble

hydrogen and electric power Cascading Star Architecture to cover an entire

generation, to name the few. To rural area, and Road Deployment which uses a
contribute toward tackling energy series of bidirectional antennas to provide
crises engineers and technologists coverage along the roads.
are devising ways to power Base In Pakistan also, some cellular operators are
Stations, integral and the most
power consuming equipments of a With over twenty thousand
cellular network, through alternate
and renewable energy resources. towers erected throughout
Diesel generators are inefficient
at places with high daytime
the country, cellular phone
humidity as in case of hot areas of companies have access to
Punjab and Sindh. Claiming to
reduce fuel consumption by 75 per
only 61 per cent of their
cent, Maryland-based Integrated target market according to
Power Corporation runs the
equipment of Etisalat, the national estimates of Pakistan
telecommunication operator of Telecommunication Authority
UAE, by solar power during
daylight hours and by diesel (PTA). The companies are in
generator at night. vigorous competition to get
Engineers at Motorola Labs
developed a power system making touched by the rest of 39 per
use of both solar and wind energy cent and it is a step toward
for powering remote Base Stations.
The system can generate 1,200 development of country both
Watts of electric power
Namibian village to the date.
technologically and
Warid Telecom, for the Vihaan Networks Limited (VNL), an Indian economically
based network company, shocked everyone in
second time deployed Solar- July, 2008 when it announced its rural-centric considering the solar option. Warid Telecom
WorldGSMTM, a GSM network deemed as a took initiative by deploying country’s first solar
Powered BTS site at Lahore catalyst for emerging cellular services to far powered BTS site in late summer of 2008. The
in January, 2009. Engineered flung rural population of Africa, in particular. A setup uses Huawei’s environmentally-friendly
Base Station in WorldGSM costs as low as Solar Powered Macro Base Stations (BTS). Ufone
at Pakistan, the BTS claims $25,000 and requires less than 100 Watts of launched its first Solar-Powered Cell Site at
to show improved power which is provided by solar panels not Haroonabad, Bhawalnagar in November, 2008.
larger than 8 square Warid
performance by saving meters. Telecom, for the
thousands of litres of diesel It does not require second time
any building and air deployed Solar-
per annum and eliminating conditioning and has Powered BTS site
the need of generator functionally integrated at Lahore in
BSC and MSC thus January, 2009.
eliminating the need of Engineered at
continuously, enough to run a mid-sized cell skilled staff. In contrast, Pakistan, the BTS
covering an operating radius of 120 km. The a typical Base Station claims to show
combined energy, after addition of 6,000 Watts demands skilled improved
from the wind turbine, is stored in a bank of personnel including performance by
specially designed lead-acid batteries which last radio network planners, saving thousands
up to three years before requiring replacement. site engineers, civil of litres of diesel
Such hybrid power supply system is operational engineers, and per annum and
and is powering a cellular base station in a equipment specialists eliminating the
etc, and is need of generator.
housed in some Besides, Telenor
building having has also been said
capacity to working for
accommodate three refrigerator-sized alternate sources for
cabinets, dual air conditioning units powering Base Stations. These BTS eliminate the
and a roof site etc. Concurrently probability of power interruption on the
powering itself and recharging, the operator’s part.
Base Stations of VNL have battery back- Fortunately, Pakistan is located in the sunny
ups of about 72 hours and are designed belt and can ideally utilize solar energy. The
to last eight years. initiatives of VNL and the like suit to the
The whole story revolves around situation of Pakistan’s less-populated rural areas
three solar-powered boxes: the particularly those of Baluchistan and the Tribal
BlueBox, as Base Transceiver Station Areas. In these areas population density is low
(BTS); the GreenBox 160i, as Base and roads running hundreds of kilo meter
Station Controller; and the OrangeBox connect distant towns and villages. In such
600i, as Mobile Switching Center energy-deficient times of Pakistan’s history,
(MSC). Based on geographic there is an urgent need on government’s part to
parameters, WorldGSM can be consider these environmentally-friendly and
deployed in two main configurations: viable options.

Solar powered mobile phone Rural Deployment which uses 17
 Exclusive Muhammad Ismail Free download | flare.com.pk

owadays students spend most of

N
Family pressure on gir
, would like ls is what concerns Ab
their time on the internet wasting Haseeb Alam, aged 15 Mir, aged 20. “Conser
vative parents discour
dullah
derage
their time, highlighted Amena to draw attention to un from interacting with
boys of their age.” Spea
age girls
ivers often
Mohamedi, age 16. “Most teenagers driving. “Underage dr about other issues tha
t concern young girls
king
their
are addicted to Facebook,” she said. “They waste endanger the society as “Girls are brainwashed Mi r added,
ay a life or into thinking that they
their time which affects their studies. Students carelessness can take aw get married at an early
age while there are res
should
sad that the
also do not realise how dangerous it is to give destroy properties. It is on make-up, clothing trictions
ng to curb this and even cell-phones.
out personal information and to chat with police have done nothi I’m trying to make here The point
st parents to is that the world is mo
strangers.” She explained that teenagers need to practice. I would reque ahead. We need to sto ving
m driving and p imposing the values
find other pastimes and parents must spend stop their children fro and move ahead.” of the past
” he said.
time with children to keep them away from web to keep an eye on them,
sites of social networking.

The spread of cell phones amongst teens is what concerned Rabail

Habib, aged 14, “Teenagers as young as 13 can be seen carrying cell
phones while parents think that it is
important for their
child’s safety to
carry a phone.”
Emphasising the
other side of the
picture, Habib
explained, “Not
only do teenagers
lose their phones,
they also become
potential victims of theft and in more
severe cases, kidnapping.”
ry
e rate has a ve
ed 18 , fe lt th at rising crim lt fo r te en agers
, ag difficu
Daniyal Naqvi s in P ak is ta n , “I t is
t on teenager kidnappings,
serious impac e d u e to bombings, ts and
n or m al lives an ym or
ag er s fa ll prey to thef
to le ad t case s te en teenagers
u rd er s an d rapes. In mos ln er ab le , as a result, most
m are vu at the
p in gs because they n .” N aq vi believed th
ki d n ap
gression and
dep re ss io tive which
p ro n e to ag s fr om be ing socially ac
ar e teenag er gulfed by
n m en t also restricts le ad m orbid lives en
en vi ro in Pak is ta n festyle,”
at es th em . “Teenagers d of fu n an d a pleasant li
is ol er, inst ea
fear and murd explained Naq
vi.
Omar Yousuf, aged 15
The internet is expanding very fast while
, believed that televisi
youth lose sight of rea
lity. “I had been addic
on is making the mobile has reached in every corner of the
and I became disrupte ted to television as we
that, I have realised the
d and aggressive. Now
that I have come out of
ll country. This change has diversely effected
importance of my life.”
our youth. Young boys and girls around
a common pastime for
the youth these these technology advancements have some
“Sheesha has become He added that the
ar old Mo ebin Khurram Hafeez. mind blowing thoughts which we are trying
days ,” sai d 15 ye “It is also commonly
a’s po pu larity is peer pressure.
reaso n for Sh ee sh ary a single Sheesha to convey in their own words. What they
ee sh a is not harmful on the contr
belie ve d tha t Sh a can also be altered
0 cig are tte s.” In some cases, Sheesh think and want in the cyber age
is eq ua l to 10 thorities should
cau sin g ad dic tion, he added. “The au
for dr ug us e, boys and girls, so
sh a an d cig are tte s at least for underage restricted being the member of our society. I
ban Sh ee protected.”
that our futures can be think they should be motivated against the
Speaking about a simila After reading the minds possible challenges of the practical life.
r issue, Sundus Aamir,
restrictions imposed by aged 16, said that and spirit of young guns,
Mentally they should be prepared to work in
conservative families
push these children tow on their children can one can easily decide that IT enabled environment.
ards drug abuse. She ad
from broken homes are ded that children even our youth is at a risk
They should be given access to IT and telecom
more prone to drug ab
pressure and competi use while academic of isolation. They know facilities so that they should be shown they way
tion also stress children
. what they are and
der, Ushah Fatima Munir, aged 15
ess ur e is an im po rtant issue for 10th gra what they should be. , feels that the selection
Academic pr syllabus and process of various zonl
. “S tud en ts, no wa da ys, have a demanding It is also clear that if and regional cricket tea
ms is
Kazi, aged 15 especially, demand unjust. “Many boys are
with it. O-level schools, the youngsters are left behind for the rea
not everyone can cope dy have to study for that they do not have so n
dents, as students alrea not provided with any connections or sour
too much from their stu aminations add more
ces.”
while the mid-term ex the right direction
their CIE examinations c co mp etition is more pronou
nced, he
then it will be impossible to success and keep them away from
rac hi, aca de mi
pressure.” In Ka to hold positions, but
ool wants its students to utilise their talent and drugs, smoking and other bad habits.
explained. “Every sch of pressure on the
is healthy, it causes a lot abilities. Not only girls
At community level we should give them
although competition
but the boys are also very very active role to groom them accordingly.
students.”

Boys and girls should given a chance to work

After reading the minds of our young spirits one can easily decide together in IT enabled environment to groom
more understanding and good working
that our youth is at a risk of isolation which they are feeling badly. relationship.

18 They know what they are and what they should be
 Telepedia Flare Report
ecently residents in one locality of
R Islamabad woke up one morning to find
themselves neighbours to a 30m tall
mobile phone tower. The tower was
erected overnight on top of a two-storey plaza in
the neighbourhood market, less than 20m away
from their homes.
The plaza owner had no qualms about
becoming one of the hundreds of landlords to the
rapidly expanding wireless communication
network in the twin cities – he is getting Rs 25,000
in monthly rent from the mobile phone company
for hosting the tower on his plaza’s root-top. Some
owners are known to be paid as much as up to Rs
50,000 per month.
But residents nearest to the plaza, who were
neither asked for their opinion nor informed about
the tower before it was erected, are worried about
the potential harm of living in the shadow of a
radio frequency electro magnetic radiation
emitting cell phone tower.
Possible health hazards due to exposure to
electromagnetic fields had been cited as one of the
three negative effects of mobile phone towers in a
The problem of weak
signals is supposed to be
solved by the ever-growing
number of new towers
delivering new telecom
services to an
increasingly large customer
base but the “obvious
aesthetic impact” and the
“relatively lower but real
threat … from accidents that
could occur in the event of
storms and gusty winds”
make this solution hazardous
like anything
report commissioned by the federal cabinet in
2005 after public concerns were raised about the
mushrooming of mobile phone antennas
throughout the urban and rural landscape of
Pakistan.
The other two negative effects of mobile phone
towers, according to the 51 page ‘advisory report’
prepared by the ministry of information
technology (IT) are the “obvious aesthetic impact”
and the “relatively lower but real threat … from
accidents that could occur in the event of storms
and gusty winds”.
Cellular towers or base station antennas of the
growing number of mobile phone companies in
Pakistan increased from 968 in 2003 to 5,236 in
2005 and 10,109 in 2006, according to the above
report entitled ‘Environmental and Health Related
20 Effects of the Cellular Base Station Antennas’. The
Free download | flare.com.pk
number today could possibly be twice as much as With such
in 2006.
In some cities, apparent concerns about the
health hazards of these towers, especially in
residential areas, have prompted public
complaints that in some instances have led to
measures in place,
people
probably be less
concerned about
the health and
will
sealing of these towers by the local authorities safety implications
concerned and even court cases. The public often of mobile phone
blames leniency by the local authorities – CDA in towers and their
the case of Islamabad – towards the mobile phone emissions
companies for the mounting of towers in whenever a new
residential sites. Such conflicts are not only tower is
unpleasant but unnecessarily compromise the installed.

benefits that radio-communications technology
has brought to modern living.
It is not uncommon, for instance, for
mobile phone users to have to go outside
and stand in a certain way or hold their
mobile phones to their ear at a certain angle
to hear or be heard properly.
This problem of weak signals is supposed
to be solved by the ever-growing number of
new towers delivering new
telecommunication services to an increasingly
large customer base.
The above advisory report by the ministry of
information technology recommended that we do
two things, which many other countries have al
ready done, to address public concerns about the
hazards of mobile phone towers.
1. Adopt internationally accepted safety
guidelines on exposure of public to
radiofrequency radiation emitted by mobile
phone base station antennas.
2. Develop appropriate mechanisms
through clearly laid down rules and regulations
to deal with the environmental and aesthetic
aspects of a growing wireless communication
infrastructure.
3. Not only should the deployment of
mobile phone towers within our communities be
regulated and planned by a number of different
pieces of regulation – federal, provincial and
local – but a code for the mobile phone industry
could also be developed obliging it to apply a
precautionary approach to the design,
operation and selection of sites for
communication facilities.
4. Under the code, mobile phone
companies should be required to consider
avoiding ‘community sensitive’ locations
such as residential areas, schools and
hospitals and balance this with other
factors, such as coverage objectives and
engineering requirements, when
deciding on placement for a site.
5. In addition to these measures, a
website could also be developed -
preferably by the industry itself - to
provide people with access to
information about the deployment of
mobile phone infrastructure across
the country, what has been done to
contain the negative effects and
health hazards, and how it aims to
deal with continuing social and
environmental issues relating to
the mobile phone network.
 Free download | flare.com.pk
Ibrahim Qureshi Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Microsoft
Director Raffles (Pvt) Ltd. Named Account, Apple Distributors
Flare Panel: Sir please brief us on the current
satuation of IT industry in Pakistan.
Ibrahim Qureshi: Our indigenous IT
industry and local computer manufacturing
organisations enjoyed tremendous growth in
2005. This progress however, unfortunately
slowed down in 2006 because 15 per cent general
sales tax (GST) was imposed on computer
industry which had now been increased to 16 per
cent.
At the same time as the import of used
computers increased the market share of local
computer industry which at one time stood at 25
per cent was reduced to only 5 per cent. Pakistan
is the only country in the region where import of
the used computers is allowed while the same is
totally banned in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and
India.
Up to 31st December 2008, 1.25 million
computers were imported and almost half of
these were used. People considering them
cheaper buy old and used computers although
they prove expensive as lot of money is spent on
their repair and maintenance. Moreover old
computers are based on old technology.
On the other hand, our company is offering a
computer equipped with modern technology like
Intel Atom PC in just Rs 13000 with three years
warranty. The Government departments are not
supporting the local industry and are wasting
valuable foreign exchange in buying
international brands which have in no way better
performance, quality and prise.
FP: We observe that the computer industry
flourished during the previous regime. Now it
is declining. What is the reasont?
IQ: During the last regime, say from 2002 to
2005, there was a five per cent concession in the
duty on computer parts which is now
withdrawn. A 16 per cent GST has been imposed
on computer industry. On the other hand million
of rupees under invoicing are done in the
Raffles Pvt Ltd manufactures Pakistan’s local
branded computer systems, operating for
the last seven years. It is marketing Intel
desktop computer, branded servers, net
working solutions, computer hardware as
well as notebooks equipped with Microsoft
licensed operating system and other latest
utilities. The company is ISO-9001-2000
certified and also Intel Premier Partner,
imports of the computers of multinational
companies. We are preferring multinationals on
our local manufacturing companies.
FP: Banks have stopped small loans, how
this has effected IT and computer industry in
Pakistan.?
IQ: People used to buy computers through
consumer financing as the interest rate was low.
But now with increased interest rate and the
stoppage of consumer financing, it has now
become very difficult for people to buy
computers.
FP: What is the export quantum of
Pakistan’s IT industry?
IQ: Pakistan’s last year IT exports amounted
to US$ 116 million which were all software
related. Our neighbouring countries like India,
Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are far ahead in IT
exports. In fact after USA, India is on top in the
computer industry exports. Unfortunately, our
policy makers devise such policies which
Raffles is offering a computer
equipped with modern
technology like Intel Atom PC
in just Rs 13000 with three
years warranty
hamper the exports of our IT products. This
situation has compelled us to offer our products
in Dubai through local partners from where
Raffles products are being sold to Middle Eastern
countries.
FP: Punjab Government has spent Rs four
billion rupees over the establishment of
computer labs at school. Will the local
computer industry benefit from it?
IQ: Yes, they are establishing computer labs
Flare Panel Interview
at various schools with an expenditure of Rs four
billion. But, instead of approaching local
computer manufacturers they are purchasing
expensive computers from foreign companies.
They are not only wasting forign reserves, but
also discourage local manufacturers.
FP: How can we control the menace of fake
computer software?
IQ: Until and unless Microsoft Company and
other companies do not reduce soft ware prices.,
we cannot control sale and purchase of number
pirated copies. For example the price of a
company’s software CD is Rs 10,000. The same
CD you can get in Rs 100 to 150 from the market.
How can you stop it?
We have a solution to this problem. If
government provides facilities to local computer
manufacturers the prices can be lowred. We are
Microsoft Gold Certified Company and sold
numerous software at cheap prices.
FP: International economic crisis has led to
the closure of many big USA and Indian
computer companies. What are the effects of
this crisis over Pakistani computer industry?
IQ: The troublesome financial crunch has
obviously come down to us, but most of our
industry problems are indigenous. We had
already started going down because of our own
policies. In 2005 the growth rate of Pakistani
computer industry was 25 per cent which has
now been reduced to only 5.5 per cent.
No doubt the growth of computer industry of
Europe, America and India has been badly
effected. Hundreds of call centres have been
closed. A renowned Indian company is
bankrupt. Still the future of IT is bright in
Pakistan. All it requires is wise policies in right
direction and in national interest as well as
patronage of local computer industry. Business
of call centres will provide jobs to educated
people with expanding IT exports.

21
 Telepedia Flare Report
Inactive SIMs finally followed by Subscriber's
Antecedents Verification Regulations 2009
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
introduced inactive SIMs in the month of February
2009. When the system was introduced there was no
draft for the awareness of general customers except
electric and print media advertisements. However, after
the laps of twenty days the above stated draft was
uploaded on www.pta.gov.pk.
We have put it forward for the convenience of our
reverend readers so they can better understand the part
and parcel of the new policy.
n exercise of powers conferred under clause
I (o) of sub-section (2) of section (5) of the
Pakistan Telecommunication
organisation) Act 1996 the Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority is pleased to make
the following regulations:
(Re-

Preliminary
(1) These regulations shall be called as
“Subscriber’s Antecedent Verification
Regulations, 2009” and shall come into force from
the date of gazette notification.
(2) These regulations shall apply to all
operators for the registration and maintenance of
accurate data of their subscriber’s antecedents
through proper documentation and verification.

Subscriber documentation and
verification by operators
Sale of service(s) –
1) Operators shall be allowed to sell a
service through their customer services outlets or
registered and authorized agents/franchisees
only.
2) All operators shall ensure verification of
22
subscriber antecedents at the time of sale of a
service.
3) All operators shall submit a list of all
franchisees and agents to the Authority as and
when required.
4) Any service sold by any means shall be
the sole responsibility of the Operator.
5) 4. Requirement for selling a service.
I) No service shall be sold or issued in any
manner to any person(s) unless and until
following prerequisites are fulfilled:

For Pakistani Nationals
a. An adult subject to provision of copy of
CNIC.
b. In the case of minor(s) copy of CNIC of
his/her parents and Form B duly issued by
NADRA shall be required;(where applicable) and
c. Any additional requirement as required
by the Authority from time to time.

For Foreign Nationals
a. A copy of passport, with a valid visa to
stay in Pakistan;
b. Afghan nationals holding a valid identity
card issued by Government of Pakistan;
c. Aliens holding a valid document and
identity card issued by National Alien
Registration Authority; and
d. Any additional requirement as required
by the Authority from time to time.
Provided that only authorised personnel at the
customer service centre of the concerned operator
shall be responsible for attestation of all
documents required for the purchase of a service.
II) Any person holding Pakistani Nationality
shall be entitled to purchase a service for family
Free download | flare.com.pk
members, subject to the provision of an original
CNIC of the intended owner of the service and
concerned family member and thumb impressions
of both.
Explanation: “family members” include real
father, real mother, real brother (s), real sister(s),
real son(s) real daughter(s), husband and wife
while in case of step children CNIC of his/her
parents shall also be required.

Sale of service(s) to corporate customers.-
a. All
organisations/companies/firms/NGO/INGO’s
and Trusts and others registered with Securities
and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, shall be
entitled to apply to operators as corporate
customers.
b. All corporate customers referred to in
sub-regulation (1) above shall be required to fulfil
the following minimum obligations:
a) Copy of SECP registration certificate duly
attested by SECP with their stamp and signature;
b) Board Resolution or Authority letter duly
issued by the competent authority containing the
name of authorizing person or body on behalf of
the organization, the name and designation of the
person authorized to use the service and the exact
number of connections required; and
c) The corporate customers shall give an
undertaking that shall be only issued to their
employees and in case of change of ownership the
same shall be communicated to operator. The
respective organizations shall be responsible for
any misuse of the service by its employees.

All such subscribers referred to in sub-
regulation shall be required to provide a detailed
report to the Operators of persons to whom the
telecommunication service/connection are issued
on their behalf within thirty (30) days of sale of
service.

All application forms will be required to
be stamped by all operator(s) or their authorized
agents or franchisees as the case may be as per
instructions issued by the Authority from time to
time.
The concerned operator(s)
and their
registered/authorized
agents or franchisees shall
provide all the information
and shall extend all
possible assistance to the
authorised officer(s) or
representative of the
Authority to inspect the
records

Verification and activation of SIM(s) by
cellular mobile operators: Minimum Number(s)
of SIM(s) to be issued by the operators. Subject to
holding Pakistani nationality, only such person(s)
shall be entitled to have upto a maximum of ten
SIM(s) from one operator.
Provided that foreign nationals shall be
entitled to one SIM per operator.

SIM(s) activation upon verification.
Free download | flare.com.pk
a. All operators will be obliged to activate all
SIM(s) after complete verification of subscriber(s)
antecedents given under regulation 7 of these
regulations or as per direction of the Authority.

In the circumstances where any SIM(s)
connection is found unverified it shall be blocked
immediately by the operator and the status of such
blocked SIM(s) shall be reported to the Authority
on monthly basis.4 of 4 8. Verification and
activation of SIM(s).___ (1) All SIM(s) sold shall be
verified by the operators in accordance the
directives of the Authority in addition to the
requirements given below:
a. Subject to fulfilment of the complete
verification by the operator from NADRA or
NARA, an operator shall activate the SIM(s);
b. All new SIM(s) sold shall be verified
within 24 hours of sale of SIM(s) through
NADRA ; and
c. The operators shall communicate the
activation of the SIM(s) along with complete
account details to the subscribers through SMS or
automated voice messages (English and Urdu)
within 24 hours of the verification.

For the purpose of subscriber’s data
verification, Operators shall make necessary
automated and redundant arrangements with
NADRA.

In case of unverified SIM(s), the
subscribers shall be informed for completion of
required documents within seven days from the
date of communication.
he government is likely to make it
T
fixed
mandatory for the cellular companies to
contribute 0.5 per cent of their gross
revenue as research and development
(R&D) fund as is already being provided by the
line companies like Pakistan
Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL),
well-informed sources told Business Recorder.
The sources said that in view of importance of
the indigenous development of information and
communication technology and human
resources, provisions for contribution for R&D
fund was made in the de-regulation policy 2003,
approved by the cabinet.
The policy required all fixed line licencees to
provide R&D fund contribution @ one per cent of
gross revenue minus inter operator and related
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
(PTA)/Frequency Allocation Board (FAB)
mandated payments.
In addition, clause 7.2 of the fixed line de-
regulation policy reads, "Under proposed new
policy framework, in order to ensure that fixed
line telephone licencees are not placed in a
position of disadvantage, the cellular licencees
would also be required to contribute toward
R&D and Universal Service Fund (USF) in the
same manner as fixed line licencees". Similar
treatment was given to fixed line licencees and
cellular operators in the case of USF. Licencees
were required to pay 1.5 per cent of their adjusted
gross revenues in the USF.
The cellular mobile policy prepared and later
approved by the cabinet in its meeting on 28th
January 2004, stated that "R&D contribution
would be @ 0.5 per cent of gross revenue minus
inter operator and related PTA/FAB mandated
payments to the R&D fund". This contribution
percentage was based on rationale of fast
anticipated growth in cellular wireless sector.
However, along with this lower contribution by
cellular operators the percentage reduction in

Upon failure to provide the requisite
documents as required in sub regulations (3)
above, again the subscriber shall be asked to
provide the required documents, If the potential
subscriber persistently fails to provide the same
within fifteen days, in addition to the period given
earlier, the SIM(s),sale shall be cancelled.
Unverified SIM(s) shall not be activated and
the status of all such cancelled SIM(s) shall be
reported to the Authority on a monthly basis.

Cleaning of Old Data. All operators shall
verify all SIM(s) sold up to 31st January 2009
through NADRA which shall be submitted to the
Authority by 15th March 2009.
All operators shall furnish a comprehensive
report of sub regulation above by 31st March 2009
comprising the status (verified, blocked etc.) of all
SIM(s) sold up to 31st January 2009.

Directions of the Authority
a. All directives, Standard Operating
Procedures and orders issued by the Authority on
or before the notification of these regulations shall
be binding and applicable on the Operators.
b. The operators shall revise the verification
procedure as and when required by the Authority
to ensure all updated technical measures are being
implemented by the operators for antecedent
documentation and verification.

Public Education & Awareness. All
operators shall set up a media campaign through
print and electronic means for the education of
consumers of all the requirements and processes
proportionate contribution by fixed line licencees
perhaps did not get their attention.
Resultantly, an anomaly in contribution of
R&D fund for fixed line licencees cropped up
which has been raised by Pakistan
Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL)
and PTA.
In view of requests of PTCL and PTA, the
Ministry of Information and Technology a case
was initiated for introduction of uniform rate of
0.5 per cent for cellular as well as fixed line
operators. Ministry of IT placed the matter before
the Prime Minister through a note for his
consideration and orders requesting to allow
same R&D contribution to fixed line operators, so
as to remove existing anomaly in R&D
contribution. The then Prime Minister had been
pleased to direct that the issue should be placed
before the cabinet.
The caretaker Minister of IT had authorised
for submission of the summary, however,
Cabinet Division directed to submit the summary
Flare Report Telepedia
to be followed to purchase a telecommunication
service/connection and verification of antecedents
as and when required by the Authority.

Inspection. In order to ensure compliance
of these regulations, the Authority through its
authorised officer(s) may inspect the premises and
records maintained by the operator(s) at any time
at their customer services outlets or
registered/authorized agents/franchisees.
The concerned operator(s) and their
registered/authorized agents or franchisees shall
provide all the information and shall extend all
possible assistance to the authorised officer(s) or
representative of the Authority to inspect the
records.
Reporting requirements: In addition to the
reporting requirement given in regulation 47 of
the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
(Functions & Powers) Regulations 2006, all
operators shall submit reports about connections,
record of subscribers, documentations, detail of
operator’s franchisees and authorized agents or
any information required for the purpose of these
regulations on a monthly basis and as and when
the Authority deems appropriate.

Maintenance of Record. All operators
shall be required to update the
documentation/record of all connections.

Amendment. The Authority may add or
amend these regulations as and when deemed
appropriate.

Under proposed new policy
framework, in order to ensure
that fixed line telephone
licencees are not placed in a
position of disadvantage, the
cellular licencees would also be
required to contribute toward
R&D and Universal Service
Fund (USF) in the same manner
as fixed line licencees
after obtaining the approval of new Minister in-
charge.
In a recent development, President PTCL held
a meeting with Minister for Investment Waqar
Ahmad Khan and raised the issue of disparity in
R&D contributions between the fixed and cellular
operators. Ministry of Investment referred the
case to Ministry of Information Technology
(MolT) with the observation that the case of PTCL
requires immediate attention for its resolution
and provision of uniform treatment in connection
with the R&D contribution. Investment Ministry
has also urged MoIT to initiate immediate
measures to have uniform policies.
Keeping in view recent developments, the
Ministry of IT has submitted a summary to the
federal cabinet, proposing that cabinet should
consider uniform R&D contribution of 0.5 per
cent for all fixed line and cellular operators to
maintain the spirit of para 7.2 of fixed line policy
2003 which envisages that none of the licencees
is at any disadvantage.
23
 Business Flare Report
Wall Street has been looking to President Obama for change, only to balk when change is
meted out profits in health care will become... the best house in a bad neighbourhood we
call the equity market
he mounting pace of reform from
T Washington - an ambitious $3.6 trillion
budget, for instance, and a blueprint for
propping up Citigroup - failed to slow
the pace at which the stock market hit one
desultory record after another. Stocks suffered
their worst February since 1933. The 43 per cent
decline over the past six months was the worst
such stretch since 1932.
The measured selling sent stocks to a 12 year
low, close to levels from which previous bull
markets had sprung. February 27's decline was
the ninth loss in 10 days, surely improving the
odds of at least a momentary bounce off this
morose spell. But the orderly wilt-and the relative
absence of panic-reduces the likelihood of a
sustained rally.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the
week down 303, or 4.1 per cent, to 7063, it’s
lowest since May 1997.
The S&P 500 absorbed its seventh loss in eight
weeks and declined 35, or 4.5 per cent, to 735. It is
53 per cent off its 2007 peak. The Nasdaq
Composite Index fell 63, or 4.4 per cent, to 1378,
while the Russell 2000 slipped 22, or 5.3 per cent,
to 389.
Selling pressure has eased compared to the
rabid asset dumping seen last October. The
number of stocks plumbing fresh lows, for
example, is a mere fraction of that seen last fall.
Yet the S&P 500 is 13 per cent lower more than
four months later. February's decline also
was the worst monthly loss since October
- a worrying sign that slippage might pick
up anew.
For February, the losses totalled 11.7
per cent for the Dow, 11 per cent for the
S&P 500, 6.7 per cent for the Nasdaq, and
12.3 per cent for the Russell 2000. This six-
month slide isn't yet as prolonged as the
nine-month droop that ended in 1942, but
the Dow's 39 per cent slide from
September to February is already far
sharper than the 15 per cent loss back
then. Will the government manage to
revive the American economy? The
anticipated date for such a revival keeps
getting pushed further out. Meanwhile, the
attempt is causing no end of pain now.
A proposal to curb fees to banks that provide
24 student loans could save taxpayers $48 billion
over the next decade, but the threat to private
student lending dropped shares of Sallie Mae, or
SLM, 21 per cent on Friday. A plan to swap
another $25 billion in bailout money for a 36 per
cent stake in Citigroup worried existing
shareholders, and Citi shares fell 39 per cent to
1.50.
Such volatility will continue "because
government programmes continue to stymie the
natural consolidation pressures that always
follow a bubble," notes Merrill Lynch chief
investment strategist Richard Bernstein. The
market won't respond positively "until
programmes are put in place that attempt to
manage that inevitable process, rather than
The proposed reform is less
surprising than the speed of
its introduction by a
president still struggling to
contain the banking crisis.
Now, Adam expects the
administration to "push it
aggressively forward" while
Obama's approval rating
remains stellar
attempt to stop it," he says.
Last week, General Electric cut its dividend 67
per cent, and the government said the economy
Free download | flare.com.pk
shrank 6.2 per cent in the fourth quarter, far
worse than the 3.8 per cent decline previously
estimated. Global banking giant HSBC reportedly
is planning to shore up it capital by issuing some
£12 billion in stock. All things considered, it won't
be an easy sell.
Goldman Sachs strategist David Kostin
expects S&P 500 companies to earn just $40 in
2009, down from $53, as he cut his year-end target
for the benchmark to 940 from 1,100. With two
critical signposts - the deceleration in bank losses
and a firming of home prices - yet to pass, he
thinks "the market is likely to remain within a
trading range around 750, but see risks skewed to
the downside in the near term."
Health care's appeal rests on three things - the
steadfast need for medicine, companies' healthy
books and visible earnings - and Larry Adam of
Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management calls
the new budget a "game changing event" for
earnings visibility.
Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew Borsch, for
example, suggests using the pullback to buy
stocks selectively. He flagged Cigna, which has
less exposure to the Medicare Advantage
programme and a mostly fee-based business mix.
At around 4.3 times projected 2010 earnings,
Cigna also is among the cheapest in the group.
UnitedHealth earns 23 per cent of its revenue
from Medicare, although the overall business mix
is fairly diversified, and margins are near cycle
trough as it recovers from execution
stumbles from 2005 to 2007.
Not every stock is clinging to its
November low. Internet retailers, for one,
have defied plunging consumer
confidence to climb 73 per cent in nearly
three months. Gains also pile up at
electronics stores (up 54 per cent) and
specialty apparel (up 22 per cent).
Retailers now attract bold money banking
on resurgence ahead of the economic
cycle.
Deep in the red for the first two
months of 2009, Wall Street enters March
with frayed nerves in anticipation of
more weak data as investors look for any
signs of an end to the horrific economic
slump.
With some indexes at 12-year lows, the market
remains cautious about the economic outlook,
 Free download | flare.com.pk
Wall Street prepares
for more bad news
The biggest positive for the
market presently is its deeply
oversold condition
despite reassuring comments in the past week
from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke
suggesting the worst crisis in decades could ease
this year.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average of 20 blue
chips slid 4.1 per cent to end on Friday at 7,062.93,
its lowest level since 1997. The broad-market
Standard & Poor's 500 sank to its lowest close
since December 1996, losing 4.5 per cent to 735.09.
The technology-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 4.4
per cent over the week to 1,377.84, near its lows
from last November.
With a bear market in full force, the Dow has
dropped 19.52 per cent so far this year after a
slide of over 11 per cent for February. The S&P is
rascom Telecom, the Egyptian telecom
O
gaint has agreed to sell off its
broadband arm and its software
development company LINKdotNet
and Link Egypt to Mobinil, Egypt’s leading
mobile operator. The comp any was losing its
revenue due to neck and neck competition and
losing customers base continuously.
According to media reports OHT is ready to
shed off 100 % shares of the LINKdotNet in Egypt
to remain in strong position in the time of
recession.
As the company was in financial crisis so the
board of directors has approved the plan last
month. It was discussed in detail that the
company was losing its market share and
customers in home country.
According to deal with Mobinil, the
transaction will be subject to a standard due
diligence process and the valuation will satisfy
arm’s length legal requirements, in line with best
practices. The valuation will be finalised at the
end of the due diligence process and will be
subject to OTH board approval. This transaction
complies with OTH’s debt covenants.
off 18.62 per cent in the year and the Nasdaq
down 12.63 per cent.
Al Goldman at Wachovia Securities
acknowledged that he was wrong in suggesting
the market had established a low point in
November but still held out hope for a rebound
soon. "In hindsight, our timing may have been
"Beyond that, the economy
needs to find its way to
recovery by adding up the
baby steps which we search
diligently for every week"
too optimistic; the bottoming out for the bear
could start somewhat lower," he said. "However,
history shows that the economy and the stock
market will recover."
Investors had to cope with more grim
economic news including a downward revision
showing a stunning 6.2 per cent annualised drop
in fourth quarter economic activity, highlighting
a deepening recession.
A government plan to boost its stake in
“The sale of LINKdotNet to ECMS
represents another setback to the company
which was once a hot cake for OHT.
Some analysts have the opinion that
LINKdotNet was not in good financial
position and Naguib Sawiris has been
thinking to cut the cost of the group in a way
which suits the business parameters.
Like Pakistan where LINKdotNet has
been in hot waters after many complaints
from customers of over charging,
substandard services and poor speed. It was
reported in the press that the head of OHT was so
depressed from LINKdotNet that he decided to
sell the 100 % shares of company in just one billion
to save his hard investment.
OHT is ready to shed off
100 % shares of the
LINKdotNet in Egypt to
remain in strong position in
the time of recession. Poor
speed, over charging,
connectivity issues were
major problems faced by
the customers
Even in Pakistan, the group is not earning due
to recession in general and poor services in
Business
troubled banking giant Citigroup to as much as
36 per cent through a stock conversion also roiled
the market and sparked further debate over
whether the move was an effective
nationalisation.
The coming week could bring more bad news,
with February auto sales expected to be weak and
a payrolls survey expected to show further
massive job losses - perhaps as many as 600,000,
according to some analysts.
Yet some analysts say the stock market is
"oversold," having already discounted the worst
economic scenario.
Gregory Drahuschakat Janney Montgomery
Scott said he remains cautious. "The biggest
positive for the market presently is its deeply
oversold condition," he said.
Linda Duessel at Federated Investors said the
administration of President Barack Obama is
moving quickly to revive the ailing US economy
but it will take time for various stimulus
measures to have any effect. "What is needed now
is the government's success in convincing
Americans that its bold plans can work," she said.
"Beyond that, the economy needs to find its
way to recovery by adding up the baby steps
which we search diligently for every week."

particular. After launch in Pakistan in February
2008, the company has hardly had a good time in
the market. A customer Muhammad Mansoor
from Rawalpindi was very angry while talking to
‘Flare’. They have claimed every thing but
provide only the peanut. I subscribed to
LINKdotNet last month. It performed well for
week. It’s been two weeks, my package has not
been ‘upgraded’, the modem still connects at
250/254. The download is still pathetic, not to
mention the latency. Much of my time is spent
making and receiving calls from their technical
support, usually simply telling them that my
problem has not been solved, soon after which the
conversation ends with a promise to look into it. I
can’t think that the country wide situation will
different any more. They want to grab the DSL
market but OHT failed in its endeavour very
badly.
A source has told ‘Flare’ that the Sawiris is not
happy with the performance of LINKdotNet in
Pakistan as well. That was the reason that
company has silently dismissed over 40 contract
employees in its country wide offices.
It was learned that at a time when other
companies are using latest technologies like
Wimax, LINKdotNet is still banking on old cable
system. Poor speed, over charging, connectivity
issues, and customer’s hue and cry in Pakistan
was another point to be discussed by internet
users. Dozens of cases are also pending in
consumer courts against the company. While six
case were decided against LINKdotNet.
As we have seen that deregulated regime was
enjoyed by Mobilink and now the company is in
financial crisis and so is the LINKdotNet.

25
 Event Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

Major accomplishments of the group include affiliation with Warid Telecom, ARY and Bank
Al-Falah as affinity partners. The group has provided technical existence and erection
facilities of international standard to Paktel, Warid and PTCL in technical collaboration to
international telecom giants
n cellular service there are two main

I competing network technologies: global

system for mobile communications (GSM)
and code division multiple access (CDMA).
With the advent of cellular phones which are
performing more than a phone as streaming and
email devices, speed is more important.
CDMA is traditionally faster than GSM
though both technologies are struggling hard to
compete. Both boast "3G" standards or 3rd
generation technologies. The 4B Group started its
functions with a humble beginning by setting up
4B Industries in 2001 to complement its existing
distribution business initiated in the late 70`s.
The major accomplishments of the group Lahore: GM Customer Sales PTCL Muhammad Irfan Lahore: CEO 4B International Nadeem Qureshi gives away
include affiliation with Warid Telecom, ARY and Chaudary, SEVP PTCL Naveed Saeed, CEO 4B the gift to the lucky winners.
Bank Al-Falah as affinity partners. The group has International Nadeem Qureshi and GM Sales 4B
International Engineer Salamat Ali in a group photo. (MoU). The PTCL would purchase 4B Telecom
provided technical existence and erection
made CDMA handsets and give to the customers
facilities of international standard to Paktel,
across Pakistan. Without the need of any modem,
Warid and PTCL in technical collaboration to
just using a Trend Mobile data cable for
international telecom giants.
connecting one can connect internet to computer.
4B Telecom (Trend Mobile) has unveiled
The handsets would function on all Vfone
CDMA handsets first time in Pakistan and it is
another landmark in the telecommunication
sector. The handset frequency is 4.5/1.9 and call
virtually anywhere in Pakistan through a
wireless network.
Lahore: GM Sales 4B International Engineer Salamat Ali,
The PTCL would purchase GM Customer Sales PTCL Muhammad Irfan Chaudary,
SEVP PTCL Naveed Saeed, Commercial Head Warid
4B Telecom made CDMA Uganda Shaukat Islam and Brand & Media Manager, 4B
International Shahid Ashfaq during Retail Seminar: A
handsets and give to the Lasting Partnership.

customers across Pakistan.

Without the need of any Lahore: Manager Imports/Exports 4B International Imran
Anwar and Manager Customer Care, 4B International
modem, just using a Trend Farooq Butt attending the seminar.

Mobile data cable one can connections powered by Pakistan

connect internet to
computer
Bright colour LCD screen displays, easy-to-
read text and call information. The sound quality
is excellent with professionally designed set.
Design has become more important than cutting-
edge technology.
In a recently held ceremony Trend Mobile
26 and PTCL inked memorandum of understanding
Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
The Retail Seminar on the Lasting Partnership
between PTCL and 4B International was
attended by distinguished dealers of Lahore
region.
The Trend Mobile team has maintained
customer friendly policy to benefit the customers
as much as they can. In this regard, one-year
warranty has been given to handsets. For the
customer's convenience warranty labs will be
established around Pakistan for quick services.

Lahore: SEVP PTCL Naveed Saeed draws lucky winner.
Free download | flare.com.pk
Your palmset is your
pocket doctor
All over the world volunteer services have
been launched to increase public
awareness about various typical diseases.
People can get the symptoms and
precautions of dengue fever on their
handsets. Many surveys have been taken
to increase public participation and to safe
more and more people from severe attacks
N
ot content with offering calls, texts
and internet access, the mobile
phone industry is convinced it can
help save lives and offer health
services to millions worldwide. The idea of a
phone serving as a "doctor in your pocket" has
gained attraction at the industry's biggest
trade show, the Mobile World Congress, in
Barcelona.
Among a slew of possible applications in
poor countries, insiders stressed the potential
for the mobile phone to remind people to get
vaccinations, take medicine, or undergo HIV
tests. Doctors and nurses working at distance
from hospitals or clinics can also use mobile
connections to relay information on local
patients or report disease outbreaks.
"When you consider that there are 2.2
billion mobile phones in the developing
world, 305 million computers but only 11
million hospital beds, you can instantly see
how mobiles can create effective solutions to
address healthcare challenges," said Terry
Kramer, strategy director at British operator
Vodafone.
The Rockefeller Foundation, the UN
Foundation and The Vodafone Foundation
announced the Mobile Health (mHealth)
Alliance, a partnership to advance the use of
mobile technology in healthcare.
The UN and Vodafone also released a
study, "mHealth for Development: The
Opportunity of Mobile Technology for
Healthcare in the Developing World,"
detailing 51 programmes in 26 countries. The
biggest adopters are India with 11 projects and
South Africa and Uganda with six each.
"Innovative technology could reduce the
pressure on public healthcare systems," Daniel
Carucci, vice-president of health at the UN
Foundation, told.
In Uganda, for example, a multiple choice
quiz about HIV/AIDS was sent to 15,000
subscribers on the Celtel network in a rural
region, inviting them to answer questions and
seek tests. Users who completed the quiz were
given free airtime and each time they
answered a question wrong they received a
message informing them of the correct
response. At the end of the quiz, a final SMS
was sent to motivate participants to go for
voluntary testing and counselling at a local
health centre.
Slightly less than one in five responded and
the number of people who went for testing at
the centre increased from 1,000 to 1,400 during
a six-week period, the report said.
In another example given in the report,
health workers in the Amazonas state of Brazil
began filling in surveys last October on their
mobile phones on incidences of the mosquito-
borne dengue fever.
In Uganda, a multiple choice
quiz about HIV/AIDS was
sent to 15,000 subscribers
on the Celtel network in a
rural region, inviting them to
answer questions and seek
tests. Users who completed
the quiz were given free
airtime and each time they
answered a question wrong
they received a message
informing them of the
correct response
"The devices are providing us with
precision (and) the information we need to
develop (effective responses) in the areas
where the infection levels are high," Luzia de
Flare Report Telepedia
Melo Mustafa, an Amazonas health agent is
quoted as saying.
In Mexico, a medical hotline called
MedicallHome was launched in 1998 to
provide for people without access to a doctor.
They can ring or send an SMS to ask for
advice. "Sixty per cent of the time, you can
replace the doctor," Pedro Yrigoyen, co-
founder of MedicallHome told , highlighting
the fact that mobile phones outnumber fixed
lines in Mexico by five-to-one.
"Public healthcare is overwhelmed...
people wait for hours just to see the doctor."
Elizabeth Boehm, an analyst at research
group Forrester, sees the potential for mobile
phones to help in public health information
campaigns, but also points out limitations.
"One of the main challenges, in mobile health,
is that people who are most in need of
healthcare are usually more aged, so they
don't use the mobile or they're not comfortable
with it," she told.
In the developed world, researchers are
also looking for ways to harness mobile
technology. In several countries, diabetes
sufferers can measure their blood sugar level
with a device connected to a mobile phone
which sends the data to doctors to verify.
Other applications are seen for monitoring
people with heart problems or Alzheimer's
disease.
In the United States, a service called
"Foodphone" enables a user to take a photo of
his or her food before a meal and send it to an
expert who replies with information about the
nutritional value.
If such services are introduced in Pakistan
they will prove very helpful in curbing
emerging disease such as dengue which is
expected to hit the streets once again. This will
also help in increasing awareness about AIDS
and breast cancers. People can get information
instead of visiting doctors personally.

27
 Telepedia Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

SR today, is increasingly when it comes to overcoming social

C becoming an integral part of

most organisations. As defined
by the World Business Council
for Sustainable Development’s CSR is
‘the continuing commitment by business
challenges. In line with this concept,
Mobilink continues to contribute over Rs.
2 million annually to TCF to fund the
operational costs of both schools. This
enables more than 360 students across
to contribute to economic development both campuses to enjoy seamless access to
while improving the quality of life of the quality education.
workforce and their families as well as of This is in addition to Mobilink’s
the community and society at large’. continued support extended to Zindagi
The concept of giving has always Trust and CARE Foundation thus catering
been there, but globalisation has put it in to over 2,000 students through CSR efforts
the limelight thereby giving structure to in education. Mobilink also provides
the whole concept of Corporate Social scholarships to 5 students of LUMS who
Responsibility or CSR. qualify through their
Instead of disconcerted National Outreach Program.
efforts, this has made the As businesses mature in
whole process their approach
more systematic towards CSR,
and encourages there has been a
a conscious growing sense of
responsibility for
quiet a few years now. While several
corporate sector players have been
following CSR strategies, but this number
has largely remained constant. Other
organization must also follow to realize that
CSR is not just about support of a charitable
deed or corporate philanthropy it is about
integrating the philosophy with their
organization as well as upholding ethical
business practices. According to the
Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, currently
only 35% of corporate philanthropy is
directed towards education.

Amongst other facilities, HR policies at

Bilal Munir Sheikh, Vice President Marketing, Mobilink, Sadia Khurram, Director CSR, Mobilink and Dr Jamal Nasir, Founder & Mobilink include comprehensive medical
President of Pakistan Green Task Force join Mobilink Foundation Torchbearers - a group of Mobilink employees who actively coverage, education assistance for further
participate in volunteer activities, as they celebrate the International Volunteer Day studies. Another noteworthy aspect is a
strong culture of volunteerism by allowing
effort to contribute to social development. By cellular services, the company takes its corporate employees to dedicate a certain amount of work
following a holistic approach to CSR social responsibility very seriously. Being the hours per month to work with the local
organisations can maintain their commitment to market leader, Mobilink has a bigger task on its community, organize blood donation camps, tree
the community. hands of proving itself to be a responsible plantations and visits to less privileged schools
Many organisations today have corporate corporate citizen than most of
social responsibility (CSR) on the top tier of their its contemporaries, because of
agendas. One such company that is leading in the fact that it is the largest
this arena is Mobilink, through its various private sector organization.
corporate endeavours. Formed last year by The company has a proven
Mobilink, the Mobilink Foundation stands out track record of taking its social
for its role in transforming CSR into something responsibilities seriously while
worth writing about. extending a helping and
Apart from its core business of providing caring hand where most
needed.
Mobilink has established One area where the
company has contributed
links with various deserving significantly is education – the
educational institutions primary hurdle in Pakistan’s
development progress.
across Pakistan. In 2006, Believing firmly that provision
upon acquiring a customer of education to every citizen is A Mobilink employee donates blood at the Camp organised by the Mobilink
Foundation for Thalassaemic children
vital for the uplift of the
base of 20 million, pledged community; the company realizes the to assess their needs and then provide assistance
Rs 20 Million to the importance of educating the next generation. For accordingly. These employees who work under
citizens foundation (TCF) for this purpose, Mobilink has established links with the banner of Mobilink Foundation Torchbearers
various deserving educational institutions across are internally recognized for their contribution.
the construction of a Pakistan. In 2006, upon acquiring a customer After carefully looking at the contribution of
primary school in Nathoki, base of 20 million, pledged Rs. 20 Million to The Mobilink, one should expect that other
Citizens Foundation (TCF) for the construction companies will also come forward and follow the
Lahore and a secondary of a primary school in Nathoki, Lahore and a foot steps of the leader of mobile sector in
school in Taiser Town, secondary school in Taiser Town, Karachi. Pakistan. No doubt, if all the companies
Development scientists world over lay contribute in the same way, at least we will have
28 Karachi emphasis on the significance of sustainability better education for our generations.

Free download | flare.com.pk
Outsourcing in
recession regime
While this line of thinking is certainly appreciable, it is
pertinent to note that outsourcing is not a tool to reduce job
opportunity in a country. Outsourcing should be used as a
strategic tool for a business to grow and not look at it as a
mere tool for cost control
recession is defined as a decline in a
A country’s gross domestic product
(GDP) or negative growth for two or
more successive quarters of a year.
Recession is caused by any one or combination
of the following factors:

Currency crisis: This happens when the
value of a currency changes quickly,
undermining its ability to serve as a medium of
exchange.

Inflation: It is the result of a rise in the
general level of prices of goods and services in
an economy over a period of time.

National debt: Recession follows when a
sovereign government is unable to pay off
national debt.

Speculation and economic bubbles:
Speculation causes prices to deviate from their
intrinsic value. Recession follows when such
hyped prices crash.

War: When two or more nations are at
war over a considerable period of time, it can
prove to be a drain on the economy and can
result in recessionary trends.

Under consumption: When there is
under consumption it leads to a situation where
stagnation will set in as production will be
stopped, resulting in recession.

Over production: If there is over
production on a large scale, it would lead to the
reduction in value of the produced goods,
thereby leading to lower prices and unsold stock.
The current recession seems to be the fallout
of bursting of Economic bubble and
overproduction. The real estate prices had been
growing to astronomical figures due to hyped
demand. This hype in demand had been caused
by over-availability of easy credit. When there
was snap in one of them, the entire bubble burst.
Add to that, the continued rise in oil and steel
prices and the stage was set for recession in US.
The involvement of big players the world over
resulted in this enormous recession in the entire
world. The recession in US has been confirmed
by a negative growth of GDP. In fact the GDP in
US has shrunk 0.5 per cent, the most since 2001
(when the last recession took place).
What has been the fallout of this recession
in US?

Bankruptcies

Squeeze in credit availability from banks

Foreclosures

Reduced sales

Stock market crash

Rise in unemployment
So, how does recession impact outsourcing?
As it has with all other forms of businesses,
recession also has a huge impact on outsourcing.
And the impact on outsourcing can be as
varied as the two poles. Sine in recessionary
times, there is severe credit and fund crunch,
businesses will like to optimise whatever
available resources they have. And they would
look at outsourcing option as one which could
lead to sustained profitability because of the
lower costs involved and 24/7 availability of the
outsourcer.
But at the other spectrum of the debate is
rising unemployment. In Nov’08, unemployment
Steve Walker InsighT
in US was at 4.9 per cent with economists
predicting a further rise to about 6 per cent to 7
per cent. In fact, in October, 2008, the service
sector of US shed about 240,000 jobs. And that’s
a huge number we are looking at.
And this has stirred the conscience of many a
businesses. The thinking is: when my own
countrymen are losing jobs, why do I ship jobs to
other countries? I could very well help few of my
countrymen offering jobs at reduced costs.
While this line of thinking is certainly
appreciable, it is pertinent to note that
outsourcing is not a tool to reduce job
opportunity in a country. Outsourcing should be
used as a strategic tool for a business to grow and
not look at it as a mere tool for cost control.
Here is a small illustration of what it means:
Suppose a businessman A has an in-house
accountant to record his daily transactions and
prepare the monthly Income and Expense
Statement for helping the businessman to take
strategic decision about his business. On an
average, the hourly rate for an accountant (with
If you are thinking about
Pakistan and India do not
worry, they are used to
about this type of economic
conditions in their life. If
terrorism, fraud and under
hand deal can’t dent their
businesses nothing can
stop them
less than one year of experience) is US$ 14.14.
The monthly fixed cost assuming a 40 hours
week would be US$ 2,262. And this is only for
accounting. The businessman has to again shell
out US$ 300 upwards for preparing his
business’s tax return from a CPA.
On the contrary, if businessman A decides to
outsource his entire accounting function to APT
Services, he would be charged US$ 1,280 per
month for all services including the tax return
preparation. Add to this, the benefit of getting
highly professional reports on the current state
of the business which would be far better than
reports generated by an accountant with less
than a year’s experience. So, cost wise, it makes
sense to outsource accounting to APT. But
doesn’t that mean making one person jobless?
Not necessarily.
The person’s time can be split into: time to
interact with APT for reports etc. and time for the
core area of the business. This would have two
pronged effect on the person and the business:
a) The person would be able to generate
additional direct revenue for the business and
also learn a lot from associating with
professionals at APT.
b) The business gets additional revenue while
cutting down the overhead.
Thus by associating with APT, you can do
business without hurting your conscience. If you
are thinking about Pakistan and India do not
worry, they are used to about this type of
economic conditions in their life. If terrorism,
fraud and under hand deal can’t dent their
29
businesses nothing can stop them.

 InsighT Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

M
icrosoft said so-called "malicious
insider" breaches are on the rise
and will worsen in the present
downturn. "With 1.5 million
predicted job losses in the US alone, there's an
increased risk and exposure to these attacks,"
said Microsoft's Doug Leland. "This is one of the
most significant threats companies face," he
said.
As the general manager of the newly formed
Identity and Security unit at the company,
Leland told the effects of such attacks can be far
reaching. "The malicious insider is classed as the
greatest security concern because they have
access, and relatively easy access, to corporate
assets."

Trillion dollar losses

A groundbreaking study last year by
Verizon in the US found that insider breaches
accounted for 18 per cent of attacks with the
remainder coming outside the company - for
example by hackers, government agencies or
business partners.
The report covered 230 million records over
four years across the financial, technology, retail
and food sectors. Meanwhile a study by McAfee
pegged total global economic losses due to data
theft and security breaches thanks to organised
crime, hackers and inside jobs at $ one trillion The world's biggest software maker has warned
last year.
The problem is not just a serious one for companies to expect an increase in "insider" security
business. Just this week, on the heels of some
high-profile government breaches, President
attacks by disgruntled, laid-off workers. A company's
Obama announced an immediate 60-day review well-being could go out the door with an ex-employee
of how the federal government uses technology
to protect secrets and data.
biggest problems that is often ignored is the unsolved, unaddressed risk management
"The national security and economic health
problem of well-meaning insiders. problem that has existed for years is that
of the United States depend on the security,
"Their actions act as a prequel event to a lot everyone is focusing on the hacker.
stability and integrity of our nation's
of the attacks by more malicious parties. These "It feels more sexy and interesting to fend
cyberspace, both in the public and private
people help proliferate the spread of against the assailant from the outside rather
sectors," said John Brennan, the President's top
confidential data, which makes it easier for than face the possibility that the guy in the next
adviser for counterterrorism and homeland
malicious insiders to get a hold of it." cubicle is ripping off corporate data," said
security.
A report by the Ponemon Institute, a privacy Rowney. Microsoft's Leland said the issue also
and data-protection research group, found that highlights the complex problems that security
We have even seen it as 88 per cent of data breaches were caused by officers face.
bad as people who got simple negligence on the part of staff. Rowney "On the one hand it's all about keeping the
said common scenarios involve employees bad guys out, the malware, the viruses out of
[lay-off notice] pink slips, stealing information to sell to a third party, to our systems. And on the other you want to let
that day going to a get back at a company for being laid off or the good guys in - the people who need to have
demoted or to try and get a job at another access to your system and information so that
customer data base and company. they can be productive. Getting the balance
forwarding huge blocks of "We have even seen it as bad as people who right is key."
got [lay-off notice] pink slips, that day going to Microsoft's solutions include encrypting data
this data out the door so a customer data base and forwarding huge as well as the need for companies to react more
they can then set up shop blocks of this data out the door so they can then quickly in rescinding an employee's access to
set up shop and sell to the same customers the data if they have been laid off or moved to
and sell to the same next day," explained Rowney. another department. Rowney admitted many
customers the next day companies have been slow off the mark to
'Crown jewels' protect their assets from the inside and that the
While insider attacks are lower in number, problem is largely preventable.
'Well-meaning insiders'
Rowney said they can be more devastating "Data loss prevention systems specialise in
Symantec, the world's top security software
because the employee knows where "the crown the detection of precisely these events. The
maker, agreed that the financial downturn will
jewels" are kept - unlike a hacker who has to go report by Verizon indicates these protections are
lead to an increase in malicious insider
on something of a "fishing expedition" to find a a critical form of risk management that no
breaches. Kevin Rowney, founder of the firm's
company's valuable assets. enterprise can afford to ignore. "We can slow
Data Loss Prevention Unit, said in most cases
This point to a simple lack of emphasis on down or even roll back the wave of data breach
people are motivated by "revenge, fear or
who the bad guy really is when it comes to events that now dominate the headlines," said
greed." But Rowney also noted that "one of the
30 security breaches he claimed. "The outstanding, Rowney.

 InsighT Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

Internet popular for

drug trafficking
A country like China with its vast numbers, they tell us they have got 50,000
factories there that are producing chemicals that could be diverted illicitly into the
methamphedamine markets, so it's a huge task and the India similarly has a big
task just to control these things

T
he so called war on drugs is 100 years With modern communications being so
old now, yet the taking of illicit drugs efficient now, the drugs do pass quite easily
is showing few signs of coming under from country to country. For instance, the
control. report pointed out that Chinese chemicals
The International Opium Commission are being used by Canadian ecstasy
first convened in Shanghai in 1909 and manufacturers to make drugs which
since then the number of then end up being sold in Australia
internationally controlled substances and Japan. So it's quite a daunting
has grown to more than 200. The challenge and International
United Nations' International Narcotics Control Board is seeking
Narcotics Control Board, in its to control those precursors but
annual report released, paints a when you think that a country like
picture of an ever-expanding and China with its vast numbers, they
increasingly violent drugs market, tell us they have got 50,000
with new trafficking routes being factories there that are producing
opened regularly, many of them in chemicals that could be diverted
our region. illicitly into the methamphedamine
Major Brian Watters from the markets, so it's a huge task and the
Salvation Army, member of the India similarly has a big task just to
International Narcotics Control Board and control these things.
Chairman of the Australian National The chair of Britain's Advisory Council
Council on Drugs said, “It will be an ongoing on the Misuse of Drugs, Professor David
battle. I think it's like a lot of other things we Nutt, recently said that using ecstasy was no
face in life, poverty, discrimination and racism. rapid more dangerous than horse riding. So we are
It's a continuing battle. But certainly things movement wasting resources by targeting drugs like
would be a great deal worse if it hadn't been of information and the free movement of ecstasy. Watters commenting on the remark
for what was launched in China in the year information on the internet allows for criminal says, “With due respect, I think he's being very
2009 [1909]. For example, in 2009 [1909], in syndicates around the world to plan their foolish to even talk like that. One of the
China alone there was 3000 tonnes of morphine movements of drugs and place their orders difficulties we face in many countries is to use
equivalent of opium being consumed. Now in using various sorts of cryptology, avoiding the the term recreational or party in relationship to
the whole world today, there's not that much, open statement. Then on top of that, we have dangerous drugs. We do know that more than
including what's being used legally. So we what we call the internet pharmacy 95 per cent of the member states of the United
know there's been a very significant downturn proliferation around the world and these Nations are signatories to the convention and
in the use of that drug, even though it's very pharmacies are very often, not all, but a that covers 99 per cent of the world's
much in the hands of very clever criminal population. So in principle, they all agree that
syndicates, but we've we should control
certainly controlled it drugs, make available
to a very large extent.”
One of the difficulties we face in many countries is to use where necessary, but
The report seems to the term recreational or party in relationship to certainly not allow for
elaborate that the the recreational use of
internet is playing an
dangerous drugs. More than 95 per cent of the member these dangerous
increasing role in the states of the United Nations are signatories to the substances and to
trafficking of legal and convention and that covers 99 per cent of the world's suggest that...there is
unauthorised so much medical
prescription drugs. population. So in principle, they all agree that we should evidence that these
But the question still control drugs, make available where necessary methamphetamine
holds the ground that type drugs can have
how is the internet significant number of fronts for illegal seriously long term
being used for drug trafficking? organisations to allow controlled substances to psychotic affects. I suppose it could be said if
Watters explains that like a lot of other be moved freely from country to country you fell of a horse and landed on your head
areas in our modern life, we're having to cope through the postal systems. that might be equivalent.”

34 with changes in technology and certainly the
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HR OUTSOURCING

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 Event Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

Lahore: A group photograph of CEO Abu Dhabi Group Bashir A. Tahir, Co-Chairman Central Management Committee, Parvez A. Shahid, Chief Executive and MD Nasar us Samad
Qureshi, Ex-Chief Executive Bank Alfalah Saleem Akhtar with participants at the Alfalah Insurance Company head office inauguration ceremony.

Lahore: CEO, Abu Dhabi Group Bashir A. Tahir cutting the

Lahore: Co-Chairman Central Management Committee, cake with General Manager Alfalah Insurance Company Lahore: CEO, Abu Dhabi Group, Bashir A. Tahir receives
Parvez A. Shahid receives bouquet at the opening of Al- Abdul Haye, Chief Executive and MD Nasar-us-Samad flowers in the opening ceremony of Alfalah Insurance
falah Insurance head office. Qureshi, Alfalah Insurance Co-Chairman Central company head office.
Management Committee, Parvez A. Shahid.

Lahore: Co-Chairman Central Management Committee, Lahore: CEO, Abu Dhabi Group Bashir A. Tahir addresses Lahore: Co-Chairman Central Management Committee,
Parvez A. Shahid presents shield to Ex-Chief Executive the audience at the opening ceremony of Alfalah Parvez A. Shahid offers souvenir to Chief Executive and
Bank Alfalah Saleem Akhtar. Insurance company. MD Nasar-us-Samad Qureshi.
36

Photographs by Muhammad Saeed, HS Studio

Free download | flare.com.pk
In case you are irked by unknown callers and texters
then sorry, I can’t help you out but I can tell you some
ways to decrease the threat
onsumers expect a fair amount of
C privacy with their cell phones, so when
they get unwanted calls on their cell
phones the offence seems particularly
egregious. In recent weeks, my colleagues have
gotten unwanted calls on their cell phones from
a telemarketer pitching auto warranties. They're
not the only ones, judging by the barrage of
complaints posted on various internet forums and
boards.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to block
specific phone numbers from calling your cell
phone. You cannot block specific phone numbers,
but you can block all calls if you want, but then
you would get no calls. While you can't block a
number, many mobile phones allow you to assign
a silent or mute ringtone to that number so you
can ignore it and it won't rouse you out of bed in
the middle of the night.
Find out who is calling you and request that
they remove your name from their call list but in
Pakistan, crank callers rarely understand your
troubles and irritation. However, complaint can
be registered on call centre so the warning can be
issued.
The trend of sending promotional SMS is also
increasing in Pakistan and people in common
series often receive miscellaneous message. For a
message it is easy to be deleted but what can one
do with the callers? The number of crank calls
received by ladies is countless. Once your number
is disclosed to some imp, there is no way to rescue
the handset from the exploitation caused by not
only the other person but also his friends.
There several most suggested ways to block
phone calls that you do not want to receive are
given below. They range from fairly simple to
more complex. In addition, each method's
effectiveness depends on the type of calls in
question.

Tip #1: Place your number(s) on the
National Do Not Call Registry. If the types of calls
you are receiving are mainly from unsolicited
PTA to form Ghost
Caller Blockade
system
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is
working on a strategy to introduce Ghost Caller
Blockade system to protect especially women
mobile users from unwanted callers, Chairman
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
Dr Muhammad Yaseen said. He said, one
operator has already initiated the service. Others
are being pursued to follow the suit as soon as
possible aiming to ensure provision of quality
services to all strata of society.
PTA would soon establish a special
Consumer Protection Cell to register and redress
complaints of consumers regarding extra
charges by the operators. Now a days
negotiations are underway with the operators
and consumers to formulate regulations and the
Consumer Protection Cell would start
operations soon after completion of the
negotiations, he added.
In a bid to lure renowned vendors to initiate
mobile manufacturing in Pakistan, he added that
a research cell has also been established in the
PTA for the purpose. Responding to a question,
he assured that the PTA was trying hard to
reduce taxes on mobile calls. He said PTA was
also striving hard to introduce 3-G technology in
the country. Mobile consumers would soon be
provided cheap internet services on reduced
rates within a period of one month. Pakistan
would be made a hub for international mobile
internet traffic. Transit services would be offered
to China, central Asian States, far eastern
countries and India. This will generate revenues
and also provide cheap services to country's
mobile internet users, he concluded.
Usman Yaqoob Exclusive
telemarketers, adding your number to this
government registry may be the single most
effective way to dramatically reduce your
frustration.
Please note that this will not prevent your
friendly neighbourhood debt collector, political
pollster, and charitable beggar from continuing to
ring you up whenever they please. Still, it's easy,
free, and lasts for five years. Here's how to do it:
Register your number(s) online quickly and easily
at: https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx.
Well, this one is certainly not for us. Let’s
move to tip number two.

Tip #2: Guard your telephone number as
if its secrecy were the only key to happiness you
will ever have. This may strike some as obvious,
but the number of unwanted and downright
harassing calls people receive is enormous
enough to warrant its repetition. The more you
hand out your number the greater the amount of
unwanted calls you will receive.

Tip #3: Take advantage of Caller ID
technology. Although a basic Caller ID will not
allow you to prevent unwanted calls it will at
least allow you to identify them. This way you
have the option of screening your calls and, in
some cases, of finding out more information on
the caller e.g. phone number, name, etc.
Guard your telephone
number as if its secrecy
were the only key to
happiness you will ever
have. This may strike some
as obvious, but the number
of unwanted and downright
harassing calls people
receive is enormous enough
to warrant its repetition

Tip #4: Purchase an Inbound Call
Blocker. With this type of device attached to your
phone you will be able to take a greater and more
active role in managing the people who can
actually contact you. The device will allow you to
set a security code that a caller must dial when
attempting to phone you. If the code is not
entered the call will not be routed through.

Tip #5: Look into signing up for a service
most phone carriers refer to as Call Screening.
With this type of service you can programme
specific numbers that you want prevented from
calling you. Some of these services also allow you
to add a number that called you last even if the
number is unknown. When a number that is on
your screened list tries to contact you they will be
automatically redirected to a generic message that
informs them that you are not accepting calls
from their number.
Your telephone service provider may also
offer similar services aimed at helping you
manage your privacy by preventing unwanted
calls. Take advantage of their desire to sell you
add on services to learn everything you can about
what's available. By gathering as much
information on the options currently on the
market you'll be able to keep abreast of any new
weapons that you can add to your call blocking
arsenal.!
37
 InsighT Farooq Malik Free download | flare.com.pk

recent report stating that MySpace

A removed 90,000 sex offenders from

its Web site had me wondering:
Maybe all those moms who spy on
their kids online are doing the right thing. Yes,
that's right. Moms are spying. They're reading
kids' text messages, hacking into their e-mail
and checking what web sites they've been
visiting.
Now, I admit to having been a Mommy
Mata Hari at one time. I used to check my
son's MySpace page to see what he was up to.
I even joined Facebook in order to friend him.
I didn't realise he'd have to approve me before
I could access his Facebook profile. He
refused. So, I resorted instead to that time-
honoured maternal tradition: Nagging.
"Don't friend strangers! Don't say stupid
things online! Don't put up pictures of
yourself on a web site that will cause your
future wife to divorce you!" (Not to mention
that could cause your current mother to have a
heart attack.) But is a talking-to from mom
enough to protect teens online?
I sought opinions from Dr Herbert Mandell,
a psychiatrist and medical director of
KidsPeace, a 126 year old national children's

Is spying teens a solution?

crisis organisation, and also from North
Carolina's attorney general, Roy Cooper, who
co-chairs the State Attorney General Task
Force on Social Networking. The task force
worked with MySpace to find and block those
sex offenders. To my surprise, the lawman
from North Carolina and the psychiatrist from
KidsPeace both agreed that it's more effective
for parents to talk to teenagers than to spy on
them.
‘‘There's no reason to track
every movement your kids
are making unless you
haven't built up the sense of
trust and healthy flow
between parent and child that
takes years to achieve,’’
Mandell said
"Talk with your kids about internet use, just
like you would talk to them about drinking,
drugs, sex or anything else," Cooper said. "The
internet is an incredible tool. Your children
can find answers with the click of a mouse that
used to take hours at the card catalogue. But it
has a dark side, particularly when children
communicate online with people they don't
know."
Cooper pointed out there are risks not only
on Facebook and MySpace, but also with Xbox
Live, where kids compete against players they
may not know. He added that "parents should
talk to kids about things they post online
about themselves," including pictures, videos
and comments that can be seen by strangers,
future employers and others. "And tell them
not to accept friends on social networking sites
unless they know who they are."
Mandell said studies show that parents
38 who talk to their kids - about the internet or
‘‘Parents should talk to kids about things they post
online about themselves,’’ including pictures, videos
and comments that can be seen by strangers, future
employers and others
anything else - have more of an impact than
you might think. "They may appear to not be
listening, but they are," he said. "People who
have studied child and adolescent behaviour
have seen lots of evidence over a span of
decades that not only do children listen to
their parents, but most of the time they are
listening pretty closely. They know exactly
what your standards are, and if you have a
healthy relationship, they incorporate those
standards and internalize the values being
taught."
Both Cooper and Mandell added a few
caveats. Mandell said parents are justified in
investigating what teens are up to if there is
evidence of substance abuse or other signs of
trouble - inappropriate relationships, a plunge
in grades, or a psychiatric or developmental
disorder. Cooper added to the list of warning
signs unsolicited gifts from strangers and
mysterious long-distance phone calls.
Parents should supervise younger children
more closely than teens, including setting
password-protected parental controls that
allow you to block objectionable content, and
letting them know you'll be checking the
internet history to see what web sites they're
visiting. He did that when his two children
were younger. But does Cooper spy now that
his kids are teenagers?
"I don't," he said, adding that he thinks his
teens are mature enough to understand the
risks and make the right decisions.
Mandell said digital spying not only
undermines trust, but kids can outsmart us by
deleting incriminating messages, making calls
from friends' phones and disabling software.
"Of course they can beat you at that game," he
said. "They're more technologically savvy than
we are." As for me, my son still won't friend
Mandell said digital spying
not only undermines trust,
but kids can outsmart us by
deleting incriminating
messages, making calls from
friends' phones and
disabling software. "Of
course they can beat you at
that game," he said
me on Facebook. But that's okay. I found lots
of mom friends on the site. They'd all been
rejected by their kids, too. It is lessoning for us
that instead of just fashion why we are
exposing our children in such social sites. We
should be careful in teaching our teenagers
without harming their studies.

 Free download | flare.com.pk
The members of these gangs attract school children and try
to get as much information as possible about their family
members. This type of interaction may lead to kidnapping or
any other illegal activity if criminal minded people succeed
in finding out a soft ‘target’
ecades ago man was described as a
D social animal. Mechanical/industrial
age has been passed and today’s world
is electronic. Everyone is in a hustle and
bustle and no one has time for the people living in
same community. Robots will replace humans. In
a developing country like Pakistan, every one look
forward to went abroad. Those who are living far
away face no difficulty in contacting their loved
ones.
Distance is shrinking. Those who think that
man is no more a social animal are wrong in their
hypothesis. The only argument, I am going to
make is the existing of numerous social websites
online. When no one has time to spent with his or
her friends then the only solution one has is to join
some community electronically and to remain in
touch with friends any time.
The cyber world never sleeps: if its night in one
part of the world then there must be day in other
parts. Netzians not only contact those people
whom they already know but there is also an urge
for increasing the contacts and to know people of
far flung areas.
Once upon a time very few people know
MySpace, few heard FaceBook and a little
awareness existed about Hi5. Now there is hardly
some one who has no knowledge of social
networks. The number of websites those
encourage communication is not only increasing
but also the websites like Hotmail and Google are
transforming into social engines.
There is no doubt that these sites have proved
to be a great help in expressing point of views and
to establish groups plus causes (a cause can be
made to support or to criticise some personality
or act or anything). Those who are immature can
be easily impressed by fundamentalist. There are
also causes that promote emotions of severe hate
towards some special group. Such situations can
easily exploit youngsters who do not have strong
foundations for their believes and school of
thoughts.
Social networking websites are
proving to be double-edged
swords, especially for children and
youngsters, who sometimes find
themselves caught up in a troubled
situation resulting out of their
casual approach while interacting
online with people from different
walks of life.
Besides establishing important
social relationships, social
networking members can share
their interests with other like-
minded members by joining
groups and forums. Some
networks can also help members in
finding jobs or establishing
business contacts.
Asmat Ullah InsighT
Those who show interest in
these fake IDs are made to
believe that they are interacting
with highly sophisticated female
partners, who may do anything
for them. These youngsters are
also invited sometimes even in
other cities, cashing in on their
emotions
Social networking websites are being operated
from foreign countries and anyone who wants to
interact with the people of a certain country can
use the available respective online links.
Thousands of Pakistani people use Pakistan-
specific online links and interact with one another,
often for the sake of information or guidance on
various issues and topics.
Criminal gangs are now very active in various
forums of such websites where people interact
with others often without having any solid
information about them. The members of these
gangs attract schoolchildren and try to get as
much information as possible about their family
members. This type of interaction may lead to
kidnapping or any other illegal activity if criminal
minded people succeed in finding out a soft
‘target’.
Youngsters are no exception, as they are
usually trapped by fake but attractive IDs being
used by such people. Those who show interest in
these fake IDs are made to believe that they are
interacting with highly sophisticated female
partners, who may do anything for them. These
youngsters are also invited sometimes even in
other cities, cashing in on their emotions.
Moreover, burglars also use these online forums
where they try to tempt people by offering fake
prizes and other incentives.
Misuse of these websites has increased to such
an extent that mentally ‘sick’ people provide the
names and mobile phone numbers of other
persons with fake and vulgar introduction that
forces them into really awkward situations. The
poor victims often end up discarding their mobile
SIMs to get rid of the unknown callers.
Alternatively, those who make a positive use
of these websites get unlimited information that
helps them in excelling in their professions or
studies. There are various online groups created
by Pakistanis where they exchange views and
share information about different topics.
Whether such social networking websites
prove to be beneficial or harmful certainly
depends on the way it is used or misused by its
users, but there is a need to observe utmost care
while interacting online with unknown people.
If the concerned authorities impose a complete
ban on these websites as often suggested by many,
then it would certainly deprive a large number of
people, who search for valuable information from
very productive and useful online sources.
So, what a user can do to ensure safety is to
take extreme care and go for a more positive use of
these websites. Parents and teachers can play an
important role in providing proper guidelines to
students and youngsters on how to maximally
benefit from these online sources. And more than
any other thing, one must be on his or her guard
against all external influences.
39
 InsighT Khawar Shahzad
nternet radio is an audio
I broadcasting
transmitted via
service
internet.
Broadcasting on the internet is
usually referred to as web-casting
since it is not transmitted broadly
through wireless means. Internet
radio involves a streaming medium
that presents listeners with a
continuous "stream" of audio over
which they have no control, much
like traditional broadcast media; in
this respect, it is distinct from "on-
demand" file serving. Internet radio
is also distinct from pod-casting,
which involves downloading rather
than streaming.
Internet radio services are
usually accessible
Internet radio
from anywhere in
the world - for
example, one could
listen to an
streaming online listeners
Australian station
from Europe or
America. Some
major networks like
Clear Channel in the
US and Chrysalis in the UK restrict
In 2008, 13 per cent of the American
listening to in country because of
music licensing and advertising
population listened to the radio online,
concerns. Internet radio remains compared with 11 per cent in 2007
popular among expatriates and
listeners with interests that are often not adequately
served by local radio stations (such as progressive
rock, ambient music, folk music, classical music,
and stand-up comedy). Internet radio services offer
news, sports, talk, and various genres of music -
every format that is available on traditional radio
stations.
The most common way to distribute Internet
radio is via streaming technology using audio
codec. Popular streaming audio formats include
MP3, Ogg Vorbis, Windows Media Audio,
RealAudio and HE-AAC (sometimes called
aacPlus). The bits are "streamed" (transported) over
the network in TCP or UDP packets, then
reassembled and played within seconds. (The delay
is referred to as lag time.)
In 1993, Carl Malamud launched Internet Talk
Radio which was the "first computer-radio talk
show, each week interviewing a computer expert.
This was internet radio only insofar as it was
conceptually a radio show on the internet. As late
as 1995, Internet Talk Radio was not available via
multicast streaming; it was distributed "as audio
files that computer users fetch one by one."
However Malamud was among the foremost
proponents of multicasting technology. In late 1994,
his Internet Multicasting Service was set to launch
RTFM, a multicast internet radio news station. In
January 1995, RTFM's news programming was
expanded to include "live audio feeds from the
House and Senate floors."
On November 7, 1994, WXYC (89.3 FM Chapel
Hill, NC USA) became the first traditional radio
station to announce broadcasting on the Internet.
WXYC used an FM radio connected to a system at
SunSite, later known as Ibiblio, running Cornell's
CU-SeeMe software. WXYC had begun test
broadcasts and bandwidth testing as early as
August, 1994. WREK (91.1 FM, Atlanta, GA USA)
started streaming on the same day using their own
custom software called CyberRadio1. However,
42
unlike WXYC, this was WREK's beta launch and
the stream was not advertised until a later date.
Internet radio attracted significant media and
investor attention in the late 1990s. In 1998, the
initial public stock offering for Broadcast.com set a
record at the time for the largest jump in price in
stock offerings in the United States. The offering
price was US$18 and the company's shares opened
at US$68 on the first day of trading. The company
was losing money at the time and indicated in a
prospectus filed with the Securities Exchange
Commission that they expected the losses to
continue indefinitely. Yahoo! purchased
Broadcast.com on July 20, 1999 for US$5.7 billion.
In 1998, the initial public
stock offering for
Broadcast.com set a record
at the time for the largest
jump in price in stock
offerings in the United States.
The offering price was US$18
and the company's shares
opened at US$68 on the first
day of trading
In October 1998, the US Congress passed the
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). One
result of the DMCA is that performance royalties
are to be paid for satellite radio and internet radio
broadcasts. In contrast, traditional radio
broadcasters pay no performance royalties.
On March 2, 2007, the United States Copyright
Royalty Board approved a rate increase in the
royalties payable to performers of recorded works
broadcast on the internet. It was suggested that
Free download | flare.com.pk
some U.S.-based internet broadcasts
might be moved to foreign
jurisdictions where US royalties do
not apply. Moreover, it was
suggested that "while internet
giants like AOL may be able to
afford the new rates, many smaller
internet radio stations will have to
shut down." The Digital Media
Association (DiMA) suggested that
large companies, like Yahoo Music,
also might fail due to the new rates.
It was therefore predicted that
"internet radio services [were] likely
to appeal the royalty ruling to the
US Court of Appeals in
Washington." Additionally, on
April 26, 2007, the Internet Radio
Equality Act (HR
2060) was proposed
to reverse the CRB's
decision.
US internet
broadcasters
organised the
SaveNetRadio.org
coalition to oppose
the rate hike and in
support of the Internet Radio
Equality Act. To focus attention on
the consequences of the impending
rate hike, many US internet
broadcasters participated in a "Day
of Silence" on June 26, 2007. On that day, they shut
off their audio streams or streamed ambient sound,
sometimes interspersed with brief public service
announcements.
On May 1, 2007, SoundExchange came to an
agreement with certain large web-casters regarding
the minimum fees that were modified by the
determination of the Copyright Royalty Board.
While the CRB decision imposed a $500 per station
or channel minimum fee for all web-casters, certain
web-casters represented through DiMA negotiated
a $50,000 "cap" on those fees with SoundExchange.
However, DiMA and SoundExchange continue to
negotiate over per song, per listener fees.
An August 16, 2008 Washington Post article
reported that although Pandora was "one of the
nation's most popular web radio services, with
about one million listeners daily...the burgeoning
company may be on the verge of collapse" due to
the structuring of performance royalty payment for
web-casters. "Traditional radio, by contrast, pays
no such fee. Satellite radio pays a fee but at a less
onerous rate, at least by some measures." The article
indicated that "other web radio outfits" may be
"doom[ed]" for the same reasons.
In 2003, revenue from "online streaming music
radio" was US$49 million. By 2006, that figure rose
to US$500 million. On February 21, 2007 "survey of
3,000 Americans released by Consultancy Bridge
Ratings & Research" found that as much as 19 per
cent of U.S. consumers 12 and older listen to web-
based radio stations." In other words, there were
"some 57 million weekly listeners of internet radio
programmes. More people listen to online radio
than to satellite radio, high-definition radio, pod-
casts, or cell-phone-based radio combined."
An April 2008 survey showed that, in the US,
more than one in seven persons aged 25-54 years
old listen to online radio each week. In 2008, 13 per
cent of the American population listened to the
radio online, compared with 11 per cent in 2007.

 Free download | flare.com.pk Flare Report Telepedia

TCL is higher administration is trying hard to keep the ball rolling.

USF, Telenor ink accord
for provision of modern
P Even higher level changes have been made by the company in
order to improve performance. However, the sinking ship of the
company has hard time. After a failed experience to send one page
bills with out customised details to the customers, this time some senior
officers have been target by promoting some junior officers to highest level.
A source told ‘Flare’ that the company was trying to improve its image

telecom services with these promotions. While promoting these 8 junior officers, at least 7
senior and talented officers were ignored which has created rift among the
top level management.
niversal Service Fund (USF) and Telenor have inked an accord

U amounting Rs 930 million contract to provide basic telephony and

data services to the population in the yet un-served areas of
Mirpur Khas “Lot”, consisting of un-served areas in, Sanghar,
Tharparkar Umerkot and Mirpur Khas districts.
PTCL
A contract signing ceremony between Telenor and USF was held in
Islamabad on Friday marking launch of new telecom services to be provided promotions to punish the
by Telenor in the said areas. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Telenor, Jon
Eddy Abdullah and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Universal Service Fund,
Parvez Iftikhar signed the contract. It is noteworthy to mention here that
Telenor and USF have already signed two similar contracts earlier - for
poor performers
We have already reported in ‘Flare’ that PTCL has a tough challenge
Malakand and Bahawalpur Lots.
ahead with decreasing revenue and customers. Thousands of connections
On the occasion, Federal Secretary for Information Technology, Hifz-ur-
are not working well due to mismanagement and poor infrastructure of the
Rehman has said that the Ministry of IT is striving to increase the level of
company.
telecom penetration significantly in the rural areas. Through USF, Rural
On the other hand management and technical staff created great troubles
Telecom Programme is being run all over the country to provide basic
for the customers of the PTCL, while more than one millions PTCL
telephony and data services. He informed that in order to strengthen the
connections were disconnected across the
infrastructure, a project to provide Optic Fiber connectivity in Sindh has
country due to technical problems, while
recently been launched and in the near future such projects are also being
thousands of complaints put into the doldrums
by the administration.
After the privatisation of the PTCL, the
administration has failed to provide good and
remarkable services to its customers due to
poor and week administration, while hundreds
of telephones connection have been disordered
and damaged due to construction and other
works, but the PTCL technical staff was failed
to repair and made the telephones in working
condition.
Another thing which is a matter of concern for every person is that the
PTCL also failed to fulfil the complaints of hundreds of the customers, while
the complainers also not provided the easy access to the relevant
department.
Islamabad: CEO USF, Parvez Iftikhar and CEO Telenor, Jon Eddy Abdullah sign the contract.
However, one department that seriously needs attention is PTCL’s
customer care. There have
started in Balochistan. He added that another programme of USF,
been numerous occasions
‘broadband for un-served urban areas’ aims towards accelerating the pace of
and news regarding the
broadband proliferation, in the country. This programme will also give boost
poor performance and
to provision of other e-services like e-health, e-government, e-commerce etc.
troubleshooting when an
Under special projects, initiatives like enabling the persons with disabilities
instance arises.
to use telecom services have also been taken and establishment of multi-
Nevertheless, Pakistan ISP
purpose community tele-centres is also one of the future endeavors of USF.
industry is up for some
He congratulated Telenor and also hoped that they would work with great
interesting turns. It is
zeal and zest to achieve the desired objectives of the project.
obvious that no one but
CEO, USF, Parvez Iftikhar, informed that an un-served population of
PTCl should be blamed for
around 1.13 million (13 per cent of the total population of Sindh) will benefit
its downfall form a prime
from this project. This population lives in 218 Muzas, spread over 18,000
place to present miserable
square kilometers. He further informed that starting from October 2007, so
condition.
far USF has signed nine contracts in the un-served areas of Pakistan
On the other end PTCL
including one of Optic Fiber. The first contract of “Broadband for unserved
was first dragged by the
urban areas” is also ready for signing. He informed that another 8 projects
confrontation of workers
have been advertised, including 4 of Rural Telecom 3 of Broadband and 1 of
and the government on
Optic Fiber. All these are in areas where Private Telecom Operators are
privatisation and then
normally hesitant to venture because of high expenditures and low expected
between workers and
revenues.
Etisalat.
At the occasion Jon Eddy Abdullah said, ‘We, at Telenor Pakistan believe
It was also informed by
in breaking socio-economic barriers through use of communication
the PTCL sources that the
technology, especially in remote areas of the country. We stand firm in our
other services of PTCL also shown poor performance including PTCL dial
commitment for more such ventures with support of Government of
up, digital subscriber line (DSL) and other services of PTCL.
Pakistan and Ministry of IT.’
If the same situation continues for the long time, then the customers will
Mushtaq Ahmed Bhatti, Member-Telecom, Ministry of IT, and other
have no option but to change the company for better services
officials of the Ministry besides senior executives of Telenor Pakistan were
and facilities.
also present at the occasion.
43
 Exclusive Flare Report
Channel 5 conducted a panel discussion on the significance of car tracking systems in
Pakistan. Chairman PTA Dr Mohammad Yasin, Chairman Trafco Group Tahir Malik,
Deputy Inspector General NH MP Syed Ibn e Hussain and SP CRO Jehanzeb Nazir
graced the stage.
ith the advancement of
W technology, the rate of crime has
also multiplied. The snatching of
car on gun point is common now.
Developed countries have taken effective
measures to minimise this issue with digital
tracking systems. And even now, they have not
stopped; still they are working hard to make it
foolproof. This was the talking point during the
talk show. Some vital points were suggested to
improve the situation in Pakistan. We are
presenting the brief outline of the discussion to
our readers to show how the stakeholders are
thinking about this issue?
Mehboob A. Shah: PTA is liable to issue
licences of car tracking systems. How do you
look after the licensee and how you manage it?
Mohammad Yasin: The licence you are
talking about is named Class Value Added
Licence. We allow two kinds of operations
under this licence: Cellular mobile based
solutions and independent solutions of different
frequencies. We are responsible for keeping
check and balance of these operations, but the
most important part of this scheme is consumer
and his feed back, either they receive the specific
service or not and what is the quality of the
services provided to them.
There are two types of complains lodged by
the customers: directly to the operator and
44
through the authority. We encourage people to
go directly to the operator and demand their
right. However, we took notice of the complaints
registered to the service provider and inquire if
they are not solved by the operator.
In case of tracking systems, few complaints
were registered and there are only few
unresolved. We have several ways to monitor, if
the operation is not going smoothly. For PTA,
consumer is the pillar of all structures and we
ensure customer satisfaction.
For frequency solutions, we monitor the
frequency. We check whether two frequencies
were interrupting each other, if yes, then we
ensure transparency to reserve the rights of
customers.
Mehboob A. Shah: Sir, you have
said that few complaints are
registered against the operators.
What strategy you adopt to provide
a solution?
Yasin: When a person lodges
complain, we keep his dialogue
safe. Then we contact him or her
and inquire about the issue in detail,
and keep the record. If the issue is
serious, then we starts proceddings.
Free download | flare.com.pk
It often ends in heavy fine or even suspension of
the licence.
Mehboob A. Shah: Sir what is 789 System?
And what are its incentives?
Yasin: PTA has started to issue non-active
SIMs to make the identification process simple.
Earlier, people went and get
active SIMs and it took us 15-
20 days in identifying the
subscriber, but now they will
get a non-active SIM that can
be active only by providing
complete data of the user on
our helpline 789.
We are trying our level
best to facilitate the people so
that rate of crime can be
reduced and the system can
be made more effective. Not
only law enforcing agencies,
but the public at large will be
benefited by the registration
of the SIMs on such a massive
scale.
Mehboob A. Shah: Mr Ibn e Hussain, you
belong to NH & MP. You have to do nothing
with the car tracking system, but in case you
are informed that some car was stolen or
involved in some terrorist activity, then what
measures you take?
When a person lodges
complain, we keep his
dialogue safe. We contact
him or her and inquire about
the issue in detail, and keep
the record. If the issue is
serious, then hearing begins.
It often ends in heavy fine or
even suspension of the
licence
 Free download | flare.com.pk
Syed Ibn e Hussain: If National Highways
and Motorway Police receive a call from local
police, then it tries to identify the specific call.
After this process they contact at 130 if the car
was on any highway or motorway. After that,
we took action with all out efforts to ensure the
car should not be taken away.
Mehboob A. Shah: Mr Jehanzeb, you are SP
of Crime Report Officer. In the absence of
tracking system, how will you locate a car?
Jehanzeb Nazir: The in charge of crime
report is also in charge of IVLS (inter vehicle
lifting staff). There are many ways to find out a
stolen car. We can identify the sketches, check
the entry and exit points of a city, surrounding
districts can be checked, Motorway police is
informed to stop any car of such model, colour
and number.
The significance of tracking system has
increased with the rush of leased cars on the
roads. The insurance company want to have
track of the car, so in case of theft, it can be
recovered.
Car tracking systems are of two types:
Satellite base and SIM base. The problems we
face in case of SIM tracking system are manifold.
It is cheap and a majority of people prefer to get
hold of it. Digital Maps of Pakistan are not much
comprehensive, many small roads are missing.
Other then this, it’s very easy for thieves to
detect the SIM system to inactivate it. Satellite
System is far much better and comprehensive.
Such systems are equipped with Radio
Frequency Identification Devices. If muggers
have changed the RFID then there are booths on
all entry/exit of motorways where they are
frequently read and identified.
Mehboob A. Shah: Mr Tahir you are
Chairman of Trafco Tracking, what is a
tracking company?
Tahir Malik: The first thing I would like to
tell is how we provide safety to our customers. It
is a misconception that we are not a law
enforcing agency. All we can do is to inform the
police and to request them to recover certain
vehicle.
Mehboob A. Shah: How do law enforcing
agencies react to your request?
Tahir Malik: Their response is very good.
Our field staff has abridged the time lapse by
meeting the concerned police in person. There is
exit/entry on almost all Motorways and instead
of informing the concerned IG, we directly
connect the police on that beat.
I appreciate the efforts of Motorway Police,
because they are very responsible and don’t
interfere in public affairs unless on until public
violates the law. In my discussions with the
concerned police officers, they work for national
security and it is a national cause to save the
interests of the people.
Local police have been upgraded with the
inclusion of well learnt and energetic young
police officers with better facilities. They are
cooperative in making the tracking system a
success story.
Mehboob A. Shah: Sir how do you track the
stolen car?
Tahir Malik: Trafco Tracking is 100 per cent
GPRS based which is one of the quickest
medium as we can take position per second of
any vehicle. We have our own maps which we
have taken from Sparko and have some
technical laps, but we and some other tracking
companies, have worked to upgrade the map
and tag in new points.
Our tracking system sends coordinates; each
coordinate is of 14 digits, which are matched on
maps to get exact location. The maximum error
our system gives is of just 15 feet.
Mehboob A. Shah: Sir, what is white collar
crime?
Tahir Malik: There are people who go and
sell there vehicle and then register FIR that the
car has been stolen. So these types of people can
be including in white caller crime. However, It is
not easy to doge us because we have track of
each and every moment made in seconds. We
can also inform you about the speed of the car,
how many times someone has broken the speed
limit, applied break and keep the ignition on and
even we can tell you how many times the fuel
When a person or
organisation avails license
from PTA, there is no check
and balance. I offer myself as
a volunteer that the authority
must come and guide us
how to make our services
better and how to tackle
issues of diverse interests. If
we are not up to the mark,
then PTA must push us to
improve our services, not to
ban or fine us heavily. I think,
130 to 140 licences were
issued by PTA with a bundle
of terms and conditions.
Within the first 15 days of a
new licence, a visit should be
made from the authority to
check the services and after
that, they are free to do
whatever they want
tank has been opened. The sensitivity of this
system is exceptional; we keep track of each car
for six months as per our contract with the
insurance company.
Mehboob A. Shah: Are all cars treated in the
same manner?
Tahir Malik: Every registered car is
monitored in the same way. Each call in our
office is recorded in the same manner, so the
Business
people can’t violate the law.
Mehboob A. Shah: Mr Tahir, what
measures can be taken by regulating
authorities?
Tahir Malik: When a person or organisation
avails license from PTA, there is no check and
balance. I offer myself as a volunteer that the
authority must come and guide us how to make
our services better and how to tackle issues of
diverse interests. If we are not up to the mark
then PTA must try to improve our services, not
to ban or to fine heavily. I think 130 to 140
licences were issued by PTA with a bundle of
terms and conditions. Within the first 15 days of
a new licence, a visit should be made to monitor
how things are going and after that they are free
to do whatever they want.
It’s PTA’s good luck to being affiliated with a
person like Dr Mohammad Yasin who is himself
well-experienced in this field and can take the
sector to higher levels. Here I think, PTA has to
do a lot to improve the car tracking system in
this country.
Mehboob A. Shah: Mr Ibn e Hussain what
do you suggest to improve the safe drive?
Hussain: I want to request people not to use
mobile phone while driving. They will be much
secure and safe on roads. Another thing which I
would like to say is the fact that the law
enforcing agencies must have close cooperation
to up- grade the level of security.
Mehboob A. Shah: Mr Jehanzeb what do
you suggest in this regard?
Nazeer: Police has direct access to mobile
data and all tracking system all over the world.
Unfortunately, we have no direct contact with
the telecom vendors and the specified path is
very awkward. There is equipment but no
coordination. We request PTA that the low
quality service providers must be banned so the
time, life and money can be saved.
Mehboob A. Shah: Mr Tahir can we install
Pakistani devices in cars for tracking?
Tahir Malik: It is regretful for us to accept
that the required technology is not available in
Pakistan. The running systems are of Rs 350 –
400. Trafco is the only company that has
approved its devices from PTA but others don’t
follow this procedure. PTA must urge
companies to maintain the system. We, the
operators are crushed under heavy taxes. We
pay sales tax, income tax, excise duty and many
more.
Mehboob A. Shah: Dr. Yasin, please sum-up
the discussion with your valuable remarks?
Yasin: We try to monitor the licensees but
they are numerous in number. However, we will
try to accommodate and facilitate them as much
as possible. But, it is our customer’s right that
their data must be protected. We have planned
to start public services for people so they may
know before about the fog and traffic
congestion. I appreciate the remarks of
participants as there are always room for
improvement.

45
Courtesy: Mehboob A. Shah, Channel 5
 Event Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

Wateen Telecom, an Abu Dhabi Group venture in Pakistan, had launched its WiMAX
and HFC services for the consumer markets on December 16, 2007. The
management of Wateen Telecom has celebrated its fourth anniversary with zeal and
enthusiasm on March 4, 2009 in a gracious ceremony at its head office in Lahore.
People from all walks of life come to celebrate the day
ateen Telecom, Pakistan’s largest Wateen offers a complete range of carrier its parent company - The Abu Dhabi Group. It

W communication company in the

private sector has become the
detrimental catalyst that has
rampantly moved forward the country into a
digital revolution with its ability to seamlessly
connect and enable smarter, faster, cost-effective
and flexible communication solutions to reach its
valued customers.
class telecom and multimedia services like fixed
wireless and line telephony, always-on
broadband for data, internet and TV/multimedia
along with a host of other value-added services
and applications to set the standards for a new
era of communications and entertainment in
Pakistan.
Wateen continues to build on the heritage of
believes in leadership through innovative
people. Its technology and service-delivery
strengths stems from its valued employees who
joined Wateen from all over the world to earn
customer trust and loyalty with a continuing
commitment to the deployment of innovative
products and services, reliable, high-quality
service and excellent customer care.

Lahore: Co-Chairman Central Management Committee, Mr. Parvez A. Shahid addresses Lahore: Chief Executive Officer Wateen Telecom, Tariq Malik addresses the audience on
on the 4th anniversary of Wateen Telecom. Other senior members CEO Wateen Telecom the 4th anniversary of Wateen Telecom.
Tariq Malik, CEO Warid Telecom Faisal Ejaz Khan, General Manager Marketing Wateen
Telecom Athar Jamal stand with him.

Lahore: Group photo of marketing team prominent people are General Manager Market-
ing Athar Jamal, Head of Marketing Rabiya Riaz, Marketing Manager Nasr Minullah at
46 the 4th anniversary of Wateen Telecom. Lahore: CEO Wateen Telecom Tariq Malik cuts the cake of Wateen’s 4th Birthday.

Photograhs by Muhammad Saeed, HS Studio

 Cover Story Zubair Ahmed Kasuri Free download | flare.com.pk

48
Free download | flare.com.pk
yber world has abridged distances.
C
People lives in web(site)s connected
through (inter)nets. How these
systems function? What are their
complexities? What are the benefits? How much
one network cost and how much it generate?
What is a search engine? How
networking/social web sites interconnect? What
they lack? What betterments are expected to
touch this collage in near future? Are there any
substitutes? Where these things are taking us?
These are questions related to internet which
are interesting to only netizens of developed
worlds. In developing countries, the scenario is
different. Cumbersome dial up networks
or/and internet cables are widely use.
Broadband is expending but with a very slow
pace. In far flung rural areas, the facility is
extinguished. Besides those who are using
fastest internet connections are part of large
foreign organisations that have heavy credit
injections and can bear the expense of such
installations.
Then how people remain interconnected?
What medium do they use? Are they devoid of
any such facility? No. they have a substitute for
internet.
The most popular mean of communication in
developing world is mobile phone. Call rates
are cheap and packages are frequent. Those who
are on jobs can easily afford a handset. Foreign
groups are always interested in installing their
systems in emerging markets. Why? Why there
is always scope in establishing business in
under developed countries? Why revenue
generation is strong in poor countries? Why
there is always room for improvement despite
of unexpected political and economic
circumstances?
These are the questions that interest people
of our age and/or region. Foreign groups are
interested in putting their credit in emerging
countries because they know that they can
easily get their investment back. The scope lies
in large population that goes on increase with a
low literacy rate. The market hardly reaches
saturation level.
If the required tele-density is achieved then
there are possibilities of moving towards rural
or backward areas. Pakistan is best example if
one sees the current inclination of operators
towards rural telephony.
In a poor country, operators offer low rate
and in return grab more customers so the
decrease in profit is abridged by the number of
users. However, in developed countries, almost
everyone has his or her mobile phone
connection and it is hard for a new service
provider company to survive in an already
saturated sector. So the level of progress is
comparatively high in emerging markets.
Last but not the least attraction is the loops
and holes in the regularities of the third world.
Either regulations are imprisoned in black and
white or they are easy to repel. So the margin is
heavy. Grey traffic is common. Violations are
frequent. On the whole, investors are earning
from both hands where subscribers are blindly
enjoying their compromised communications.
While the world has switched to 3G and/or
4G, the third world is engrossed in making
popular the 2G facilities. Nothing wrong in
being traditional but, here, this part is many
steps behind the world at large.
India has recently triggered 3G where
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is
confused in giving the permission to those
investors who are waiting at its door with heavy
briefcases to achieve the license. Same is the case
with other countries.
Telenor launched Rs 99
unlimited (10,000 on net)
SMS offer for its prepaid
customers. Zong, Ufone
and Mobilink followed with
same offer in disguise. Get
unlimited (500 on net and
off net) SMS in just Rs 3.
Warid introduced only an
economic package without
any fake label
Now come to my focus: The most popular
mode of communication. In the beginning it was
mobile calls that successfully followed
Cover Story
landlines. There high rates came to bottom line
with the passage of time so the majority can
avail the facility. Mobile phone calls precede
short messages.
The short messages services (SMS) is the
most popular service around the global with 2.4
billion active users or 74 per cent of all mobile
phone subscribers sending and receiving text
messages worldwide.
The SMS are popular in urban areas where
people can easily read and write. The medium
of such messages is English that is the
compulsory second language for the people.
Students and working class frequently avail this
service to expand their networks. It is a
substitute to social services of internet. People
forward messages in groups to keep their circle
strong. Mostly discussions are carried on
messages. Small inquiries of daily occupation
are made on SMS.
On major events and celebrations, it is a
common practice to send and/or to receive
greetings through text messages. Sending
poetry, party invitations, local jokes are also an
economic adventure. You can get your ticket
schedule, news alerts, weather updates, sports
notifications, public service messages, latest
shopping offers and many more in your fingers.
World seems to be very small.
Now come to Pakistan our beloved
motherland which abounds in natural
resources. The corruption of Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority’s ex-Chairman
Retired Shahzada Aalm is an open secret. No
doubt, the telecom sectors made exceptional
growth of 170 per cent under his management
but the progress was culminated with the illegal
initiatives made by the operators and allowed
by the regulator. As a result, when
accountability started by the new Chairman of
PTA Dr Mohammad Yasin, the sector started to
move back. Service providers were reluctant in
making their networks legal as the process was
going to cost them millions of subscribers.
National integrity was threatened as the
terrorist use local, unregistered SIMs to harm
the national stature. It is shameful but true that
terrorist remained successful in spoiling our
image and we were criticised by every nook and
corner of the world for our mismanagement,
security lapses and irregularities.
The changing trend in this sector is now-a-
days of SMS. It is the latest weapon of the
operators to fight the war of expansion. You can
see every other citizen consumed in receiving or
sending short messages. The situation is even
more congested in educational institutions
where almost everyone possess a handset and
49
 Cover Story
many have more than one connection. Beeps are
audible in the class rooms, canteens,
examination halls, bus stops and even in
mosques. It is cheap, very cheap, to send an
SMS. Students can easily afford to get a package
of thousands of SMS with a red note.
According to a PTA report, during 2007-08
cellular mobile operators generated more than
25 billion SMS. But now the SMS traffic has been
multiplied. Call rates are charges on 30 second
bases where SMS cost one in 0.006 paisa (500
SMS in Rs 3).
Telenor launched Rs 99 unlimited (10,000 on
net) SMS offer for its prepaid customers. Zong,
Ufone and Mobilink followed with same offer
in disguise. Get unlimited (500 on net and off
net) SMS in just Rs 3. Warid introduced only an
economic package without any fake label.
We published a report in our last issue that
Pakistan is among the top four countries that
send highest SMS traffic on festivals. A total of
6.37 billion text messages were sent through the
systems across Asia Pacific over the 2008-2009
Christmas and New Year period.
• The Philippines stood 1st with 2.36
billion short messages;
• Indonesia with 1.193 billion SMS stood
at 2nd position;
• Malaysia with 1.075 billion SMS is on
3rd position;
• Pakistan stood at 4th position with 763
million SMS.
In terms of year-on-year growth, Pakistan’s
SMS volume increased by 253 per cent
compared to last year during the same period.
Other markets that experienced high messaging
growth include Philippines (65 per cent),
Australia (57 per cent), Indonesia (27 per cent)
and Malaysia (13 per cent). The communication
solutions provider, SMS messages formed a
large majority of the traffic with 6.36 billion
messages, while multi-media messaging service
(MMS) were recorded at 9.54 million.
The festive season still remains a favourite
high traffic period for operators and consumers
alike. Compared to last year's traffic, this year
the total messaging traffic has grown by 40 per
50
Free download | flare.com.pk
Youngsters are busy in sending messages to
It is interesting to notice their friends whole ignoring their families and
people around;
the usage of mobile • The promotion of businesses through
SMS in Pakistan has promoted scam SMS
phones in America. It will nationwide;
• You can either pick or drop call of a
help us in comparing the person but there is no way to stop someone
developed and the from texting you. If someone wants to say or to
tease you with something, you cannot avoid the
underdeveloped part of harm.
the globe
cent'. MMS traffic picking up pace across the
region with 9.5 million MMS messages
processed during this festive season.
From these growth rates, it seems as all
countries are burning the mid night oil to march
on the path of progress but it is not true.
Communication bond is very strong but the
facts are not as supporting as they appear to be
specially in case of Pakistan. Why SMS traffic is
increasing:
• Due to the abundance of message
packages around the country;
• Due to the financial crisis as users
Many violations have been made by the SMS
prefer to keep their pockets and mobile phones
service providers among which prominent are:
heavy at the same time;
the disguise of original rates (they mention rates
• Due to the literacy rate in urban areas
which they take despite of giving how much
as people can easily write and/or understand
customer has to pay), with good packages they
both English and Roman Urdu.
take some value added services back (Ufone
Contrary to the causes, there are many
stopped sending Delivery Reports without even
shortcomings associated with the SMS:
informing users), at festivals the rate of sending
• The cost effective advantages SMS are
SMS is very low due to heavy traffic (the
limited to only a limited number of people. 2G
systems are inefficient to maintain the load);
addicts, our elders, can only read our messages
where they are mostly unable or reluctant to
reply the short message;
• Short Message Service has initially
India has recently triggered
promoted our 2nd language that is English but 3G where as Pakistan
in a pathetic abbreviated form and secondly it
introduced ridiculous forms in Urdu language; Telecommunication
• SMS has also ignored our social Authority (PTA) is confused
costumes; girls and guys are deeply engrossed
in transcending social norms in all possible in giving the permission to
ways;
investors who are waiting
at its door with heavy
briefcases to achieve the
license. Same is the case
with other countries
consumed into the race, the operators have
almost forgotten about the subscribers (the are
fighting with each others for the sake of revenue
and reputation) and last but not the least is the
blame-game which every service provider is
• Youngsters waste their time in
playing in the telecom sector.
forwarding typical messages as t is a fashion to
The race is on: the goal is to win. How? By
send as much as possible messages on one’s
hook or by crock. They can compromise
social network;
anything, even their subscribers to meet the
• It is very handy to get the number of
task. I have tried to raise my voice against the
some stranger and to keep perturbing him or
bombarded trouble but to make the situation
her with cheap messages, it often spoils
better is always in their hand. SMS is not
students studies during exams;
something injurious, its affordability is good for
• There are vulgur messages which
the consumers but it is an obligation to the
unknown people keep on sending to fulfil their
operators to inform its customers in detail about
anti-intensions;
the offers. We expect that sooner or later PTA
• A lot of gap has sprung due to this
will be able to make their path straight.

mobile phonic revolution between the families.
 Tech-Tool Upcoming Mobiles
Samsung M6710 Beat
DISC
Size
Dimensions 106.8 x 50.9 x 14.7 mm
Display
Type TFT, 16M colors, Size 240 x 400 pix-
els, 2.6 inches, Accelerometer sensor
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic (72 channels), MP3, WAV
Customization, Download, Vibration Yes
3.5 mm audio jack
Memory
Phonebook 1000 contacts, Photo call
Call records, 30 dialed, 30 received,
30 missed calls, Internal 80 MB, Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 16GB
Data
GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48
kbps, HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 10, 236.8
kbps, 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps, WLAN No
Bluetooth Yes, v1.2 with A2DP, Infrared port
No, USB Yes, v2.0, microUSB, Camera
Primary, 3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, Video
Yes, QVGA@15fps,
Features
Messaging, SMS, MMS, Email Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Radio Stereo FM
radio with RDS, Games Yes +
Downloadable, Colors Black, GPS No
Java Yes, MIDP 2.0, MP3 player
Organizer, Document viewer (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, PDF), Built-in handsfree
Voice memo/dial
Motorola ZN300
Size
Dimensions 95.6 x 46 x 15 mm, Weight 103g
Display
Type TFT, 256K colors, Size 240 x 320 pixels
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic, MP3, Customization
Download, Vibration Yes, 3.5 mm audio jack
Memory
Phonebook 2000 entries, Photocall, Call
records, 20 dialed, 20 received, 20 missed
calls, Internal 8 MB, Card slot microSD
(TransFlash), up to 16 GB
Data
GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP, Infrared port
No, USB Yes, v2.0, Camera Primary
3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, flash, Video Yes
Secondary No
Features
Messaging SMS, EMS, MMS, Email Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, FM radio, Games Yes
Colors Black, GPS No, Java Yes, MIDP 2.0
MP3/WMA/eAAC+ player, MPEG-4/WMV/3gp
player, Organizer, Built-in handsfree, Voice
memo,
Battery
Stand-by Up to 400h, Talk time Up to 7h 30 min
52
Free download | flare.com.pk
Samsung S3500
Size
Dimensions 99.9 x 48 x 14.3 mm
Display
Type TFT, 16M colors, Size 320 x 240 pixels,
2.2 inches
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic, MP3, WAV, Customization
Download, Vibration Yes
Memory
Phonebook 1000 contacts, Photo call, Call
records Yes, Card slot microSD
Data
GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD No, EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps, 3G
No, WLAN No, Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
Infrared port No, USB Yes, v2.0, microUSB
Camera Primary, 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels,
Video Yes, Secondary No
Features
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML Radio, FM radio
Games, Yes + Downloadable Colors Silver, GPS
No, Java Yes, MIDP 2.0, MP3/AAC/WMA player
Organizer, Document viewer (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, PDF), Built-in handsfree, Voice
memo/dial, T9.
Sony Ericsson Idou
Size
Dimensions 111 x 54 x 15 mm
Display
Type TFT touchscreen, 16M colors, Size 360 x 640
pixels, 3.5 inches, Accelerometer sensor
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic, MP3, Customization Download
Vibration Yes
Memory
Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields,
Photocall, Call records 30 received, dialed and
missed calls, Card slot microSD
Data
GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps, 3G
HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps, WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA
Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP, Infrared port No
USB Yes, v2.0, Camera Primary, 12.1 MP, 4000 x
3000 pixels, autofocus, xenon flash, video LED
flash
Features
OS Symbian OS, Messaging SMS, MMS, Email,
IM, Browser, WAP 2.0/HTML, RSS reader
Stereo FM radio with RDS, Games Yes + down-
loadable, Colors Black, GPS Yes, with A-GPS sup-
port, Java Yes, MIDP 2.0, Google maps
MP3/AAC/MPEG4 player, Organiser, Built-in
handsfree, Voice memo/dial
Free download | flare.com.pk
Sony Ericsson W995
Size
Dimensions 97x49x15 mm Weight 113g
Display
Type TFT, 256K colors, Size 240 x 320 pix-
els, 2.6 inches, Accelerometer sensor
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic, MP3, Customization
Download, Vibration Yes, 3.5 mm audio
jack, Stereo speakers,
Memory
Phonebook 1000 x 20 fields, Photo call
Call records 30 received, dialed and
missed calls, Internal 118 MB, Card slot
Memory Stick Micro (M2), 8GB card includ-
ed
Data
GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48
kbps, HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 10, 236.8
kbps, 3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 2
Mbps, WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA
Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP, Infrared
port No, USB Yes, v2.0, Camera Primary
8.1 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED
flash.
Features
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email, IM,
Browser, WAP 2.0/HTML (NetFront), RSS
reader, Radio Stereo FM radio with RDS
Games Yes, incl. motion-based + down-
loadable, Colors Progressive Black,
Cosmic Silver, Energetic Red, GPS
Yes, with A-GPS support, Java Yes.
Battery
Stand-by Up to 370h, Talk time Up to 9h
LG GM730
Size
Dimensions 109.8 x 56.5 x 11.9 mm
Display
Type TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K
colors, Size 240 x 400 pixels, 3.0 inches,
"S-Class" Touch UI
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic (72 channels), MP3
Customization Composer, Download
Vibration Yes
Memory
Phonebook Practically unlimited entries
and fields, Photocall, Call records
Practically unlimited, Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 16GB
Features
OS Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1
Professional, Messaging SMS (threaded
view), MMS, Email, Instant, Messaging
Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, FM
radio, Games Yes, Colors
Black, GPS Yes, with A-GPS support
Java Yes, MIDP 2.0, Internet Explorer
6.0, MPEG4/H.263/H.264 player
MP3/AAC/AAC+/WMA player,
Organiser, Pocket Office (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint, OneNote, PDF viewer)
Voice memo, Built-in handsfree, T9
Upcoming Mobiles Tech-Tool
HTC Magic
Size
Dimensions 117.7x55x13.7 mm, Weight118.5g
Display
Type TFT capacitive touchscreen, 65K colors
Size 320 x 480 pixels, 3.2 inches,
Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Handwriting recognition
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic (40 channels), MP3, WAV
Customization, Download, Vibration Yes
Memory
Phonebook, Practically unlimited entries and
fields, Photocall, Call records, Practically
unlimited, Internal 192 MB RAM, 512 MB ROM,
Card slot microSD (TransFlash)
Data
GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps, 3G
HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps.
Features
OS Android OS, CPU Qualcomm MSM 7201A
528 MHz CPU, Messaging SMS, MMS, Email,
Instant Messaging, Browser, HTML, Games
Yes, Colors White, GPS Yes, Java Yes, MIDP
Battery
Up to 420h, Talk time Up to 7h 30 min
i-mate 810-F
Size
Dimensions 111 x 66 x 15.5 mm,
Weight 150g
Display
Type TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K
colors, Size 320 x 240 pixels, 2.46
inches, QWERTY keyboard
Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3
Customization Download, Vibration Yes
Memory
Phonebook Practically unlimited entries
and fields, Photocall, Call records
Practically unlimited, Internal, 2 GB
NAND RAM, 128 MB RAM, 256 MB
ROM, Card slot No, Application
Processor: Marvell PXA310 (624 Mhz)
Base-band Processor: Qualcomm MSM
6280
Features
OS Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1
Professional, CPU Marvell PXA310 624
MHz CPU, Messaging SMS (threaded
view), MMS, Email, Push Email, Instant
Messaging, Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML,
HTML (Internet Explorer Mobile 6)
Radio No, Games Yes, Colors Blue
Battery
Stand-by Up to 200hTalk timeUp to 3h
30 min
53
 Tech-Tool Upcoming Mobiles
Nokia E75
Size
Dimensions111.8x50x14.4 mm, 69cc Weight139g
Display
Type TFT, 16M colors, Size 240 x 320 pixels, 2.4
inches, Full QWERTY keyboard
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic, MP3, Customization, Download
Vibration Yes, 3.5 mm audio jack
Memory
Phonebook, Practically unlimited entries and
fields, Photocall, Call records Detailed, max 30
days, Internal, 50 MB, Card slot microSD
(TransFlash), up to 16GB, 4GB included
Data
GPRS Class 32, HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 32,
296 / 177.6 kbits, 3G HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps, WLAN
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology, Bluetooth
Yes, v2.0 with A2DP, Infrared port No, USB Yes,
v2.0 microUSB, Camera, Primary 3.2 MP,
2048x1536 pixels, autofocus, LED flash, Video
Yes, VGA Secondary, VGA videocall camera
Features
OS Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2, CPU ARM 11 369
MHz CPU, Messaging SMS, MMS, Email,
Browser, WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Radio Stereo
FM radio with RDS, Games Yes + downloadable
Colors Silver black, Red and Copper yellow, GPS
Yes, with A-GPS support, Java Yes, MIDP 2.1
MP3/MP4/eAAC+/WMA player, Built-in handsfree
Voice memo, T9
Battery
Stand-by Up to 280h, Talk time Up to 5h 20 min
Nokia E55
Size
Dimensions116x49x9.9mm, 54 cc, Weight 98g
Display
Type TFT, 16M colors, Size 240 x 320 pixels,
2.4 inches, Half-QWERTY keyboard
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic, MP3, Customization,
Download, Vibration Yes, 3.5 mm audio jack
Memory
Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and
fields, Photocall, Call records, Detailed, max 30
days, Internal 60 MB, Card slot, microSD
(TransFlash), up to 16GB, 2GB included
Data
GPRS Class 32, HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 32,
296 / 178.8 kbits, 3G HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps;
HSUPA, 2 Mbps, WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g,
UPnP technology, Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with
A2DP, Infrared port No, USB Yes, v2.0
microUSB, Camera Primary, 3.2 MP,
2048x1536 pixels, enhanced fixed focus, LED
flash, Video Yes, VGA, Secondary VGA video-
call camera
Features
OS Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2, CPU ARM 11
600 MHz CPU, Messaging SMS, MMS, Email
Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML, Radio
Stereo FM radio with RDS, Games Yes + down-
loadable, Colors Black Aluminium, White
Aluminium GPS Yes, with A-GPS support Java
Yes, MIDP 2.1, Digital compass, Nokia Maps
3.0, MP3/MP4/eAAC+/WMA player, Document
viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF), Built-in
handsfree, Voice memo, T9
Battery
Stand-by Up to 672h, Talk time Up to 8h
54
Free download | flare.com.pk
Nokia 5630 XpressMusic
Size
Dimensions 112 x 46 x 12 mm, Weight 83g
Display
Type TFT, 16M colors, Size 240 x 320 pixels, 2.2
inches, Dedicated music keys, RingtonesType
Polyphonic (64 channels), MP3, Customization
Download, Vibration Yes, 3.5 mm audio jack
Memory
Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields,
Photocall, Call records, Detailed, max 30 days
Internal 150 MB, Card slot microSD (TransFlash),
up to 16GB, 4GB included,
Data
GPRS Class 32, HSCSD Yes, EDGE Class 32,
296 / 178.8 kbits, 3G HSDPA, 10.2 Mbps; HSUPA,
2 Mbps, WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, UPnP technology
Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP, Infrared port No
USB Yes, v2.0 microUSB, Camera Primary
3.15 MP, 2048x1536 pixels, enhanced fixed focus,
LED flash, Video Yes, Secondary VGA videocall
camera
Features
OS Symbian OS, S60 rel. 3.2, CPU ARM 11 600
MHz CPU, Messaging SMS, MMS, Email Browser
WAP 2.0/xHTML, Radio Stereo FM radio with RDS
Games Yes + downloadable, Colors Red, Blue,
Silver, GPS No, Java Yes, MIDP 2.1,
MP3/MP4/eAAC+/WMA player, Built-in handsfree
Voice memo, T9
Battery
Stand-by Up to 400h, Talk time Up to 7h
Samsung i8910 Omnia HD
Size
Dimensions 123x58x12.9 mm, Weight149 g
Display
Type OLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M
colors, Size 360 x 640 pixels, 3.7 inches
Accelerometer sensor, Proximity sensor
Ringtones
Type Polyphonic (72 channels), MP3, WAV
Customization Download, Vibration Yes
3.5 mm audio jack, Stereo speakers
Memory
Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and
fields, Photo call, Call records Practically
unlimited, Internal 8 GB/16 GB, Card slot
microSD (TransFlash), up to 16GB
Data
GPRS Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 -
48 kbps, HSCSD No, EDGE Class 12
3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, DLNA Bluetooth Yes,
v2.0 with A2DP, Infrared port No, USB Yes,
v2.0, microUSB, Camera Primary
8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features
OS Symbian S60 rel.5, Messaging SMS,
MMS, Email Browser WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML,
Radio Stereo FM radio with RDS; FM transmit-
ter, Games Yes + Downloadable
Colors Black, GPS Yes, with A-GPS support
Java Yes, MIDP 2.0, Samsung Navigator
Digital compass, MP3 player,
DivX/XviD/WMV/MP4 player, Organizer
Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
PDF), Built-in handsfree, Voice memo/dial
Free download | flare.com.pk Low Range Mobiles Tech-Tool

Rs Rs
4, 500 3,499

Nokia 1680 Classic Trend T-180 Ultimate

Dimension 108 x 46 x 15 mm, 66 cc Design: Navigation option 1.5
Weight 73.7 g inch CSTN color
Battery Talk time Up to 7 h 40 min, screen embedded
Stand-by Up to 424 h antenna
Memory Combo 32 MB Built-in Flash, 4
MB SDRAM (1000 Phonebook Image & Messaging:
entries + 20 dialed, 20 received, 300K pixel camera,
20 missed calls) SMS, MMS, Email
Connectivity GPRS Class 10, EGPRS Class
6, SyncML 1.2 Connectivity: GPRS class 12, WAP
Display Size 128 x 160 pixels 2.0, PC Sync
Display Colour TFT, 65K colors
Entertainment: MP3 Player,
Embedded Games

Rs Rs
2,775 3,100

Samsung B130 Motorola W230

Dimension 104 x 44 x 16 mm Dimension 110 x 45 x 14.7 mm
Weight 68 g Weight 80 g
Battery Talk time Up to 6 h, Stand-by Battery Talk time Up to 9 h, Stand-by
Up to 250 h Up to 450 h
Memory 460 KB embedded memory, Memory 1MB internal memory +
(200 Phonebook entries, can Extendable (MicroSD Memory
store upto 100 SMS) Card, up to 2 GB supported)
Connectivity USB, GPRS Class 10 (48 Connectivity USB, GPRS Class 10 (48
kbps) kbps)
Display Size 128 x 128 pixels, 1.52 inches Display Size 128 x 128 pixels, 1.6 inches
Display Colour CSTN, 65K colors Display Colour CSTN, 65K colors

Rs Rs
5,100 2,550

Sony Ericsson K310i LG KG288

Dimension 101 x 44 x 17 mm Dimension 99.5 x 45 x 13.4 mm
Weight 82 g Weight 60 g
Battery Talk time Up to 6 h, Stand-by Up to Battery Talk time Up to 3 h, Stand-
360 h by Up to 400 h
Memory 15 MB memory Memory 80kb built in memory (300
Connectivity Infrared, USB, GPRS Class 10 (48 phonebook entries, 100
kbps), HSCSD SMS memory)
Display Size 128 x 160 pixels Connectivity None
Display Colour UBC, 65K colors Display Size 1.5 inches, 128 x 128 pixels
(Large Font Display)
Display Colour CSTN, 65K colors
55

Above prices are subject to change as per market

 Tech-Tool Current Mobiles Free download | flare.com.pk

Rs. Rs.
22,000 21,400

Nokia E63 Nokia N80

Dimension Dimension
113 x 59 x 13 mm, 87 cc 95 x 50 x 26 mm, 97 cc
Weight Weight
126 g 134 g
Battery Battery
Talk time Up to 11 h, Stand-by Up to Talk time Up to 3 h, Stand-by
432 h Up to 192 h
Memory Memory
120 MB internal memory, microSD 40 MB internal memory +
Card (up to 8GB, hotswap) miniSD (up to 2GB), hot swap,
Processor 128 MB card included
ARM 11 369 MHz Connectivity
Connectivity 3G, WLAN, Bluetooth, Infrared,
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB, USB, GPRS Class 10 (48
GPRS Class 32 (100 kbps), kbps), EDGE Class 10 (236.8
Display Size kbps)
320 x 240 pixels, 2.36 inches (Full Display Size
QWERTY keyboard) 352 x 416 pixels, 35 x 41 mm
Display Colour Display Colour
TFT, 16M colors TFT, 256K colors

Rs. Rs.
29,200 26,300

Samsung U900 Soul Sony Ericsson K850i

Dimension Dimension
105 x 49.5 x 12.9 mm 102 x 48 x 17 mm
Weight Weight
112 g 118 g
Battery Battery
Talk time Up to 4 h, Stand-by Up Talk time Up to 9 h, Stand-by Up to
to 280 h 400 h
Memory Memory
128 MB shared memory + 40 MB internal memory + Memory
microSD Memory Card Stick Micro (M2)/microSD , 512 MB
(TransFlash) card included
Connectivity Connectivity
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB,
GPRS Class 10 (48 kbps), EDGE GPRS Class 10 (48 kbps), EDGE,
Class 10 (236.8 kbps), 3G 3G (HSDPA, 3.6 Mbps),
(HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps) Display Size
Display Size 240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches
240 x 320 pixels, 2.2 inches Display Colour
(Navigation panel) TFT, 256K colors
Display Colour
TFT, 16M colors

56

Above prices are subject to change as per market

Free download | flare.com.pk Current Mobiles Tech-Tool

Rs. Rs.
19,000 49,600

Motorola Moto Q imate JasJam

Dimension Dimension
116 x 64 x 11.5 mm, 85 cc 113 x 58 x 22 mm
Weight Weight
115 g 160 g
Battery Battery
Talk time Up to 5 h, Stand-by Up to Talk time Up to 5 h, Stand-by Up
240 h OS Microsoft Windows to 300 h
Mobile 6.0 Standard Edition Memory
Memory 64 MB RAM, 128 MB ROM +
40 MB internal memory + Expandable (microSD)
miniSDIO, 128 MB card included Connectivity
Processor Bluetooth 2.0, Infrared, USB,
312-MHz (Intel XScale-based GPRS Class 10 (32 - 48 kbps),
PXA270) EDGE Class 10 (236.8 kbps),
Connectivity 3G (HSDPA 1.8 Mbps), WLAN
Bluetooth v1.2, Infrared , USB, (Wi-Fi 802.11b/g)
GPRS Class 10 (48 kbps), EDGE Display Size
Class 10 (236.8 kbps), WiFi 240 x 320 pixels, 42 x 57 mm
802.11b/g through miniSDIO (Handwriting recognition-
(optional) QWERTY keyboard)
Display Size Display Colour
320 x 240 pixels, 36 x 48 mm (Full TFT touchscreen, 65K colors
QWERTY keyboard) TFT, 65k

Rs. Rs.
49,000 29,000

Apple iphone 3G BlackBerry Curve

8GB 8310
Dimension Dimension
115.5 x 62.1 x 12.2 mm 107 x 60 x 15.5 mm
Weight Weight
133 g 111 g
Battery Battery
Stand-by Up to 300 h, Talk time Talk time Up to 4 h, Stand-by
Up to 10 h Up to 408 h
Memory Memory
8GB shared memory (No 64 MB flash memory +
Memory Card) Extendable microSD
Connectivity (TransFlash)
Bluetooth v2.0 (headset sup- Connectivity
port only), USB, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP,
3G (HSDPA), WLAN (Wi-Fi USB, GPRS, EDGE
802.11b/g) Display Size Display Size
320 x 480 pixels, 3.5 inches 320 x 240 pixels (Trackball
Display Colour navigation)
16M colors, Multi-touch input Display Colour
65K colors

57

Above prices are subject to change as per market

 Tech-Tool Current Mobiles Free download | flare.com.pk

Rs. Rs.
7,700 8,400

Samsung M200 Samsung M620

Dimension Dimension
107.6 x 45.6 x 12.9 mm 98 x 46.9 x 16.9 mm
Battery Weight
Talk time Up to 3 h, Stand-by Up to 87 g
300 h Battery
Memory Talk time Up to 5 h, Stand-by
20 MB Built-in + microSD Card Up to 250 h
Connectivity Memory
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB, 18 MB user memory + microSD
GPRS Class 10 (48 kbps), HSCSD memory card (TransFlash, up to
Display Size 2 GB)
128 x 160 pixels, 1.9 inches Connectivity
Display Colour Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB,
TFT, 65K colors GPRS Class 10 (48 kbps)
Display Size
128 x 160 pixels, 1.9 inches
Display Colour
TFT, 65K colors

Rs.
Rs.
8,500
14,200

Nokia 5310
Motorola V3 Pink
Dimension
Dimension 103.8 x 44.7 x 9.9 mm, 44.8 cc
98 x 53 x 13.9 mm, 65 cc Weight
Weight 71 g
95 g Battery
Battery Talk time Up to 5 h 20 min,
Talk Time: Up to 7 h, Stand-by Up to 300 h
Standby Time: Up to 280 h Memory
Memory 30 MB internal memory + Micro
5.5 MB internal memory SD memory slot up to 4 GB
Display Colour (TransFlash, hotswap,)
TFT, 256K colors Connectivity
Browser Bluetooth, USB, GPRS Class
WAP 2.0/xHTML 32, EDGE Class 32 (177 kbits),
Camera HSCSD
VGA, 640x480 pixels Display Size
240x320 pixels, 31.5 x 41.5mm
Display Colour
TFT, 16M colors (24 bit)

58

Above prices are subject to change as per market

Free download | flare.com.pk Current Mobiles Tech-Tool

Rs. Rs.
8,800 14,500

LG KP320 Sony Ericsson W302

Dimension
Dimension
100 x 46 x 10.5 mm
105 x 46 x 13.5 mm
Weight
Weight
78 g
81.5 g
Battery
Battery
Talk time Up to 7 h, Stand-by Up to
Talk time Up to 3 h, Stand-by
300 h
Up to 200 h
Memory
Memory
20 MB shared + Memory Stick
80 MB internal memory +
Micro M2 (512 MB card included)
Extendable microSD Memory
Connectivity
Card (TransFlash)
Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, USB,
Connectivity
GPRS Class 10 (48 kbps),
Bluetooth v1.2 (with A2DP),
HSCSD, EDGE Class 10 (236.8
USB, GPRS Class 10 (48
kbps)
kbps), EDGE Class 10, 236.8
Display Size
kbps
176 x 220 pixels, 2.0 inches
Display Size
Display Colour
240 x 320 pixels, 2.0 inches
TFT, 256K colors
Display Colour
TFT, 256K colors

Rs. Rs.
19,500 21,200

Nokia 7900 Prism Sony Ericsson W950i

Dimension Dimension
112 x 45 x 11.3 mm, 55 cc 106 x 54 x 15 mm
Weight Weight
101 g 112 g
Battery Battery
Talk time Up to 3 h, Stand-by Up Talk time Up to 7h 30 min,
to 240 h Stand-by Up to 340 h
Memory Memory
1GB internal memory (No 4 GB internal memory
Memory Card) Connectivity
Connectivity Bluetooth 2.0, Infrared, USB,
Bluetooth v2.0, USB, GPRS GPRS Class 10 (48 kbps), 3G
Class 32 (107 kbps), HSCSD, (384 kbps).
EDGE Class 32 (296 kbps), 3G Display Size
(384 kbps) 240 x 320 pixels, 32 x 42 mm
Display Size Display Colour
240 x 320 pixels, 2 inches TFT touchscreen, 256K colors
Display Colour
OLED, 16M colors

59

Above prices are subject to change as per market

 Tech-Tool Free download | flare.com.pk

Sony Ericsson W902 Cyber-Walkman-

shot review:
A phone like no other or a quick-fix Cyber-shot Walkman mongrel trying to pass
off as a hip novelty - you can call the Sony Ericsson W902 whatever you like, but
it will still be the best cameraphone among music phones. The 5 megapixel auto
focus camera opens a new chapter in the Walkman book, while everything else
about the W902 walks and talks multimedia. Based on the excellent Sony Ericsson
feature phone interface, you get all sorts of treats like the top-of-the-line Media
Center with screen auto rotation, Shake control and SensMe.
There may be hardly anything else to wish for in a feature phone, though GPS
and Wi-Fi in the latest Walkmans might make the W902 stumble a bit. But, it still
has a special place booked in the hearts of brand loyal fans who are no longer
forced to choose between imaging and music, Walkman and Cyber-shot.
It's been a while since the Sony Ericsson W902 was released on the market and
though we had a little preview out pretty much before everyone else, we somehow
managed to miss a dedicated detailed review of this promising chap in the hectic
winter months of 2008. Well, it's time to sort that and now that we secured a fully
retail-ready Sony Ericsson W902, we are more than happy to take it out for a spin.
So let's take a look at where the W902 currently stands on the market taking into
account the pretty capable competition as well.
The Sony Ericsson W902 currently retails online at the rather steep contract-
free price of around 300-350 euro (or 400 US dollars). At a similar price (or a little
less than that) you can probably also opt for the Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani.
Its flashy night effects, Armani branding, dedicated music keys, and 3.5mm audio
jack will get it noticed as a potential alternative.
Despite its music slant, the Armani is part of another market segment and is
some features (and megapixels) short of the W902. Both are stylish gadgets with
an ear for music so in the end it's a matter of priorities.

Nokia E63 E for Economy review:

Nokia E63 is the next QWERTY messenger by Nokia, set on the glo-
rious path of the E71. Only this time it slips off the high heels to walk it in
plain straight and simple boots instead. And the matching price tag leaves
little doubt of what this Working Joe here is all about.
No fancy spoils, the Nokia E63 means business and brings connectiv-
ity and messaging together in a sharp and reliable package. Certainly a
no-thrills mobile, the E63 does its jobs with no fuss and at a fair wage.
Well, who would frown at that?
Now, comparisons to E71 are clearly inevitable and maybe we know
better than expect Nokia E63 to impress us as much. But who says it can't
persuade through common sense.
Nokia E63 is undoubtedly a trimmed-down version of the E71 and
almost a return to the E61i roots - with a 2 megapixel camera and no built-
in GPS receiver. Well, the camera of the E71 was largely disappointing in
the first place plus, an external Bluetooth GPS receiver is always an
option, so we hardly count these as serious drawbacks.
The styling of the E63 is where the difference is most significant. Nokia
E63 still looks OK and feels sturdy, but it sure lacks the solid metal charm
of the E71. Anyway, the mild price tag may as well make you forgive the
cost-effective approach to the exterior.
The potential market rivals of the E63 aren't that many but there are
still a few affordable QWERTY smartphones out there.

60
 Free download | flare.com.pk Tech-Tool

Samsung i8510 INNOV8

First look preview:
Samsung i8510 INNOV8, is finally in our hands. It packs so many
goodies that it's hard to decide where to start from. It's not the first 8
megapixel handset but it's the best we've seen so far and better yet
it's among the most loaded smartphones to see daylight. Everything
about the i8510 INNOV8 speaks high-tech and since this is the case,
we guess it has come to the right place, 'cause high-tech is what we
do for a living.
We rarely see mobile phones that truly impress us and the
Samsung i8510 INNOV8 is among those few. We are in the process
of making a full review however we couldn't help but post a quick pre-
view for all of you to enjoy.
The Samsung i8510 INNOV8 (previously rumored as Samsung
Primera) has a name that seems really hard to pronounce, but in fact
it's the word INNOVATE with some untraditional spelling. The device
was announced only recently and it seems it will hit the market even
sooner while other top-of-the-shelf devices such as Nokia N96 are
still holding back for late autumn.
Now that we have this baby in our hands, you can rest assured
will put it properly through its paces. But for the purposes of this pre-
view will try to present it more concisely covering only some of the
matters of interest such as hardware and design, multimedia, web
browser, GPS and of course, camera performance.

Trend T-786i Dual Sim GSM

Trend mobiles were the first in introducing the dual SIM
mechanism that allowed a person to hold two different SIMs in one
mobile phone. It has now come up with the simplest and yet the
most loaded of the mobile phones. It is called the, Trend Perfect
Dual Sim, T-786i is available in Bar shape with keypad and touch
screen facility.
The features of T786i are startling, Its basic edge is that a user
can retain different network operators, SIMs in one cell phone and
can receive calls in both. It is a complete multimedia cell phone with
2 mega pixel camera, which has an audio and video
recorders and players as well. The USB data cable
allows the user a unique facility of ‘Plug N Play’.
Attach the cable with your computer and view
what you have recorded. There is no need of any
software or driver installation unlike other cell
phones. Trend T-786i having Bluetooth connectivi-
ty, GPRS and MMS. Trend mobiles offers and
unmatched Deluxe Package along with the
set which includes a free-of-cost Bluetooth
Device, 256 MB memory card, hands free,
USB port, Desktop charger, 2 extra batteries
and In-Car charger and a Trendy pouch to carry your cell
phone in style.
The Trend T-786i is a fashion conscious handset, which has a
good and attractive size of LCD and gives solid and quality feel
when in use. Mobile phone holds another edge to other cell phones
in the market. It has the style, it has the attractive look and it has all
that you require in cell phone to begin with.

61
 Tech-Tool High Range Mobiles
Rs
32,500
Samsung F480
Samsung F480 - Imagine a Phone That
Response to Every Touch
Samsung F480 has a Full Touch Screen
with "New touch UI". Samsung F480 is
equipped with a 5 Megapixel auto-focus
camera with LED flash, 3.5G connectivi-
ty, high-speed data connectivity and
mobile blogging function. This stylish
Samsung F480 touch screen phone is
designed to meet all your multimedia
needs.
Rs
45, 000
Sony Ericsson C905
Sony Ericsson C905 - Picture per-
fection
Sony Ericsson C905 has all the func-
tions you need for perfect pictures.
Smart Contrast balances light and
colour. Face detection helps you
focus on people. The 8.1 megapixel
Sony Erisson C905 Cyber-shot™
phone is equipped with Xenon flash
and always ready to capture the best
moments of your life. Sony Erisson
C905 - its all about Getting the best
shot.
Rs
31,500
imate JAMin
Built from the ground up to serve the
complex needs of busy individuals,
The i-mate JAMin helps make lite
work of doing business on the run, &
lets you have a little fun along the
way. But dont let its stylish looks &
compact design fool you, The i-mate
JAMin is quite simply the best of the
best!
62
Above prices are subject to change as per market
Free download | flare.com.pk
Rs
38,500
Nokia N95 8GB
Up to 8GB of internal memory. The
Nokia N95 8GB multimedia comput-
er has more of what you're looking
for. 5 megapixels, DVD-like quality
video, Carl Zeiss Optics. Access
your music, emails, plus advanced
web browsing & integrated GPS &
Nokia Maps. Upload photos instant-
ly to Flickr, download videos with
ease. It's what you need. It's where
you are.
Rs
52,650
HTC TyTN II
HTC TyTN II The Ultimate Mobile
Companion
Ready for Business? The HTC
TyTN II is More powerful than any-
thing you've seen before, it takes
communication to the next level.
TyTN II is the most robust
Windows Mobile device in the mar-
ket today...
Rs
56,000
Apple-iPhone 3G (16GB)
This 133 grams phone has a Lithium
Ion battery, which provides talk time
of 600 minutes and standby time of
300 hours. It has added features like
Quad band, 16m coloured touch-
screen display with resolution of 320
x 480 pixels and a music player sup-
porting MP3, AAC, Audible, Apple
Lossless, AIFF and WAV music for-
mats. It also comes with an inbuilt
memory of 16GB, 3G compatibility, 2
megapixel camera, Wi-fi, Bluetooth,
USB connector and EDGE.
 Free download | flare.com.pk
DELL INSPIRON 1525 (2.4 dos)
Rs
83, 958
The Dell Inspiron 1525 is built around an Intel
Core 2 Duo processor and in the case of high-
er-end models the new Centrino Duo plat-
form. Aside from processor choices, Dell is
also offering colour choices.
ACER TM 6492.142
Rs
64, 338
The Travel Mate 6492 series is designed for smart-thinking users from
small, medium and large-sized companies and self-employed profession-
als looking for a full desktop replacement with unrivalled performance, an
excellent mix on weight and battery performance combined with the max-
imum of today's mobile security features on the move and in the office.
The Acer Travel Mate 6492 notebook is featuring all requirements of the
Intel Centrino PRO platform based on the latest Intel Core 2 Duo proces-
sors, latest 802.11n Wireless standard and advanced support on
Manageability. Equipped with a 14” display managed by Mobile Intel
Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 graphics chip for excellent graphics
performance.
Apple Macbook Pro 2.66GHz
Rs
232, 900
The latest Intel processor, a bigger hard drive, plenty of memory, and even
more new features all fit inside just one liberating inch. The MacBook Pro has
the performance, power, and connectivity of a desktop computer. Without the
desk part.
Built-in lithium-polymer battery. Up to 8 hours of wireless productivity.
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics processor and NVIDIA
GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor; 512MB of GDDR3 memory
320GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive
4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 memory; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 8GB
Latest Laptops Tech-Tool
HP PAVILION DV5-1299 SPL
Rs
125, 378
With a striking, liquid metallic industrial design on
the outside and powerful entertainment capabilities
on the inside, this 15.4-inch notebook is the perfect
partner for fun, communication and productivity.
IBM ThinkPad SL 400
Rs
66, 518
The ThinkPad SL400 is built on Intel's Centrino 2 platform and a
midrange Nvidia GeForce graphics card and delivers decent overall
performance and--with a 9-cell battery--lengthy battery life. Despite the
design departure that is its shiny piano black lid, the SL400 serves up
familiar ThinkPad touches, including an excellent keyboard, the track-
point and touch pad tandem, and a boxy chassis. Road warriors who
heap abuse on their laptop may want to go with the R61 or another
ThinkPad with the magnesium alloy roll cage that protects the internal
components and display, but for more sedentary small business own-
ers and operators.
Archos 7
ARCHOS is introducing the world’s first implementation of the ARM®
Cortex™ superscalar microprocessor. The ARCHOS 7 offers an unri-
valled web experience with no more endless waiting for the pages to
load. Just grab your ARCHOS 7 and check the latest news right away.
Your PC wouldn’t have finished booting up by the time you put the
ARCHOS back in its pouch. With an 800 pixel-wide resolution and a 7”
screen, you can browse the Web in full width just like on your PC. No
need to zoom in and out, web pages is fully displayed on the ARCHOS 63
screen.
Above prices are subject to change as per market
 Exculsive Flare Report
The GSMA announced the winners of the 14th Annual Global Mobile Awards at a
gala dinner at the National Palace in Barcelona, hosted by the rising star of
comedy, Michael McIntyre
Best Mobile Game:
Gameloft – Real Football 2009
Gameloft's Real Football 2009 is exactly what this
industry needs. A game which is both intuitive
and playable, with excellent graphics, but which
also makes great use of mobile features including
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth multiplayer, and network
connectivity for online leagues: Judges.
Best Mobile Advertising
Service: Turkcell – Tonla
Kazan
It is new, innovative and effective. Putting choice
in the hands of the user in terms of advertising
selection is a great move – with properly targeted
content, users will be more likely to participate
and help to drive the adoption of mobile
advertising: Judges.
Best Mobile Enterprise
Product or Service:
Vodafone – Vodafone Global
Enterprise Limited
This demonstrates a strong value proposition and
reach, and is a welcome initiative for businesses
looking to streamline their voice and data
requirements across international markets:
Judges.
Best Mobile Money Service:
Safaricom and Vodafone
An accessible and intuitive solution, reflected by
an unprecedented take-up rate for a service of
this kind. M-PESA will serve as a blueprint for
other operators around the world. Targeting the
unbanked, this provides a simple means for
people to safely transfer and carry money:
Judges.
Nokia – Nokia E71:
Email is made easy with the Nokia E71. The
world’s thinnest mobile QWERTY device, the
Nokia E71 is designed for easy setup and use,
offering access to a wide range of personal and
professional messaging needs – including
Microsoft Exchange, the world's most widely
adopted corporate email solution – as well as
64 thousands of ISPs.
Free download | flare.com.pk
Best Mobile Music/Video
Service: BBC - BBC iPlayer
This is a very appealing application that has
taken the online world by storm. Other
broadcasters - both public and commercial -
should be trying to achieve similar levels of
engagement with the audience on all devices:
Judges.
Best Mobile TV Service:
MobiTV – MobiTV
A great service with a simple user interface
available on an impressive range of handsets –
this is likely to encourage greater uptake of
mobile TV services: Judges.
Best Mobile Internet Service:
Nokia – Nokia Sports Tracker
A great example of a service that utilises the
capabilities of high tier handsets to deliver a
compelling application and service proposition.
The ability to share data captured on the handset
with a community of users typifies how social
networks are increasingly being driven by mobile
use: Judges.
Best Mobile Handset or
Device: INQ – INQ:
The INQ¹ represents a significant step towards
the mobile device as a social networking hub and
also represents superb value for money. Its
approach to the deep integration of services such
as Facebook outshines that of much costlier
smartphones, and it presents a compelling
proposition by treating the phonebook as the
focal point of the device.
T-Mobile – T-Mobile G1:
T-Mobile G1 is the device built for the mobile
internet. The unique design of its hard- and
software makes it a device that brings the value
of the mobile internet to everyone.
G1 is the world's first Android based mobile
phone.
 Free download | flare.com.pk Exculsive

Best Broadcast Commercial: GSMA’s Government

KT Freetel Leadership Award:
A lovely commercial, using humour and The Government of France
poignancy to show exactly how people do use
The Government of France has taken several key
their mobile phones. Show is .... effectively
policy decisions that will ensure the vast majority
presents and promotes the 3G mobile network,
of its people will be able to benefit from cost-
demonstrating how it can be a part of daily life:
effective, high-performance Mobile Broadband
Judges.
services.

Best Use of Mobile for Social Best Network Technology

& Economic Development: Advance:
Nuance Communications Nokia Siemens Networks
A truly moving project that combines technology A worthy winner, based on the successful Flexi
and tradition to protect and encourage the use of concept, but incorporating new baseband and
a language that is core to a national identity. With radio technology that enables operators to
literacy posing a major issue with SMS, this is one migrate from 3G/HSPA through to LTE, and
very impactful way of resolving it: Judges. NSN’s commitment to how it will support this
type of migration strategy: Judges.

Best Billing or Customer Care

Solution:
Expert System
A major, smart, automated step forward in how
to help users to get information - an excellent way
of providing phone help: Judges.

Best Mobile Internet Service - Winner: Nokia - Nokia Sports Tracker. John Hoffman,
CEO, GSMC Ltd, Kirsi Sormunen, Vice President, Nokia, Michael McIntyre and Mr Shi
Lirong, EVP, ZTE.

Best Mobile Technology Green Mobile Award:

Breakthrough: RIM Smart Communications
RIM does it again, with a new twist to the touch A major, smart, automated step forward in how
screen. The SurePress screen incorporates touch to help users to get information - an excellent way
with confirmation, taking interaction to a new of providing phone help: Judges.
level: Judges.

The 2009 GSMA Chairman’s The GSMA CEO’s Award for

Award: RIM Outstanding Environmental
Throughout the years, BlackBerry devices have Contribution:
become a central communications tool for not
only email, but for social networking, SMS, Nokia
instant messaging, Internet browsing, and of The award went to Nokia, a company that has
course, for making phone calls. In recent years, fostered a deep seated genuine understanding of
RIM has brought innovative new devices to the challenges and delivered a tangible,
market including the BlackBerry Pearl, the impressive response on an industry scale.
Curve, the Bold and the BlackBerry Storm, which
was nominated in the awards earlier tonight.

Best Mobile Brand Best Service Delivery

Campaign: R/GA London – Platform:
Nokia Urbanista Diaries NewBay Software
An innovative concept with a very interesting An impressive product for stimulating network
outcome, linking social networking with mobiles usage and revenue. The flexible deployment
in a different way. The Urbanista Diaries models should fit with any operator or MVNO
demonstrate impressive use of multiple media to looking to tap in to the Internet social networking
integrate mobility into the day-to-day culture of culture: Judges.
the target audience: Judges. 65
 Event Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

The four day conference and exhibition attracted executives from the world's largest and
most influential mobile operators, software companies, equipment providers, Internet
companies and media and entertainment organisations, as well as government delegations
he GSMA reported that more than 47,000 week's Congress emphasises the important role

T
four days of
d innovators for
visitors from 189 countries attended the mobile has in creating new opportunities that entrepreneurs an d networking
, competitions an
GSMA Mobile World Congress, will drive future growth." seminars, events 2009 agenda
e comprehensive
February 16 to 19, the leading event for During the event, leaders from companies opportunities. Th world and
g issues that the
the mobile communications industry. The four including AT&T, China Mobile, China Unicom, reflects the pressin the credit
ry is facing today:
day conference and exhibition attracted Ericsson, Microsoft Corp., MySpace, Nokia, the mobile indust ys m man-
te
growth and ecos
executives from the world's largest and most Telefonica, Telenor, Verizon Communications crunch, network l and social is-
as environmenta
influential mobile operators, software and Vodafone, among others, gathered to agement as well
companies, equipment providers, Internet address head-on the challenges presented by the sues. rtunities
allenges into oppo
companies and media and entertainment global economic slowdown and outline Turning these ch em s Net-
en
sage for Nokia Si
organisations, as well as government strategies for sustaining growth. Additionally, was the key mes
ar’s congress.
delegations. 50 per cent of Mobile World the Congress delved into the world of mobile works' at this ye
Congress attendees hold C-level positions, entertainment, with the one-day Mobile
including more than 2,800 CEOs. Backstage event featuring the MOFILM Mobile
The GSMA represents the interests of the Short Film Festival.
worldwide mobile communications industry. The 2009 Congress featured 1,300 exhibiting
Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites more companies and occupied more than 57,000
than 750 of the world's mobile operators, as well square metres of exhibition and hospitality
as 200 companies in the broader mobile space, a footprint 11 per cent larger than that of
ecosystem, including handset makers, software the previous year. Nearly 2,400 international
companies, equipment providers, Internet print, Web and broadcast media attended the
companies, and media and entertainment event to analyse and report on the many
organisations. The GSMA is focused on significant industry announcements made at the
innovating, incubating and creating new Congress.
opportunities for its membership, all with the The Mobile World Congress' sister event, the
end goal of driving the growth of the mobile Mobile Asia Congress, will be held in Hong
communications industry. Kong in Autumn 2009 and will feature a thought-
leading conference programme that will explore
the major strategic issues and opportunities
The Mobile World Congress' facing the mobile industry as it moves forward.
sister event, the Mobile Asia
Congress, will be held in
Hong Kong in Autumn 2009
and will feature a thought-
leading conference
programme that will explore
the major strategic issues and
opportunities facing the Barcelona: Sweden's Carl-Henric Svanberg President and CEO of
Ericsson attends an opening session of the Mobile World Congress
mobile industry as it moves
HTC announced
forward President and CEO of Nokia Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo gives a speech
Pro2. It packs a ne
the all-new HTC
Touch
during a conference at the Mobile World Congress (GSMA). w longer lasting
battery and a bigg 1500mAh
on the er 3.6" 480x800 W
"We're extremely pleased with the turnout etworks focused screen. The brillia VGA
Nokia Siemens N economic nt specs are still
present.
that we've seen this week. The strong level of es that the global Quad-band GPR
new opportuniti ice S / EDGE / HSP
attendance, particularly among the C-suite of the mmunication serv pixel auto-focus A, a 3.2 mega
slump brings. Co w th ei r fo cus on im- microSD (HC) ca
camera, GPS, WiF
i, Bluetooth,
world's leading communications companies, that rene
providers (CSPs) g prof- rd slot, FM radio
demonstrates that Mobile World Congress experience, drivin and the 528Mhz with RDS
proving customer y will come Qualcomm CPU
continues to be the place where the industry acing sustainabilit something else - . There's also
itability and embr an ever. "HTC Straight Ta
comes to do business," commented John t crisis stronger th sophisticated spea lk". It has a
out of the curren ence kerphone which
Hoffman, CEO, GSMC Limited. "The mobile est mobile confer those found in co is similar to
The world's larg stry players, rporate boardroo
ms and gives
industry stands out as one of the few vibrant the leading indu high quality voic
brought together e and sound whi
ch is en-
sectors in a tumultuous world economy, and this
66
Free download | flare.com.pk Event

Just
hanced by asymmetric speakers.
it'll auto-
flip the Touch Pro2 over and
matically switch to the enh anc ed
speakerphone.
A new "Push Internet" technology
to
is also included which promises
e en-
make browsing the internet mor
nloa d-
joyable. It'll alleviate slow dow
sele ct
ing and rendering of pages, just
im-
your favourite Website and it will
ch
mediately display. Inside the Tou
the
Pro2 is packed with innovation -
you
touch-sensitive zoom bar will let
u-
zoom in easily on pages and doc
lst the gra vity , pro xim ity
ments whi
and amb ient ligh t sen sors will help
This
you to use the phone more easily.
e
is a phone which promises to cop
hea vies t of ema il use rs.
with even the
President and CEO of GSMA Rob Conway (1stL), Jefrrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary-
General Ban Ki-Moon (2L), Franco Bernabe, CEO of Telecom Italia (3L), Wang Jianzhou chairman and CEO of China Mobile (4L), Jon-Frederik
Baksaas president and CEO of Telenor (5L), Carl-Henric Svanberg President and CEO of Ericsson (6L) and Alexander Izosimov Chairmain of the
GSMA and CEO of Vimpelcom (R) attend an opening session of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 16, 2009.

IP and broadband communication

company Alcatel-Lucent announ
cluding a certification by the WiM ced a slew of news on the first day
ax Forum and a software module of the 2009 Mobile World Congres
wireless networks through the rap the company says enables service pro s, in-
id introduction of Long Term Evo viders to expand the capabilities
Alcatel-Lucent said the software luti on technology. of their
module is a key component of the
step” forward in the company's stra com pany's enhanced NodeB (eNodeB)
tegy to support next-generation wir solution and represents a “major
around the world, the company said eless services worldwide. Alread
it will be generally available in mid y in trials with tier-one service pro
The company’s Connect Program, -2009. viders
in its initial phase, will concentrat
tion and electronic health care, auto e on five areas: consumer media
motive connectivity, digital signage and entertainment, enterprise coll
rich and diverse ecosystem of infr , and computing experience. The abora-
astructure, devices, content and app programme is dedicated to establis
GPON and other ultra-high-bandw lications for both mobile and fixe hing a
idth technologies. d broadband networks, including
The programme boasts a members 4G, LTE,
hip that includes 4DK, Buzznet, Chu
sung, Signexx and Total Immersi mby, Connect2Media, Dimedis, Fish
on. Labs, Hewlett-Packard, QNX, Sam
-

announced
French mobile operator, Orange,
r’s Mo bile
some interesting stuff at this yea
d to scor e the ex-
World Congress. They manage
ly anti cipa ted
clusive launch rights for the high
LG Watch Phone in Europe.
e-tiered
The launch of Orange Care, a thre
wit h such
package that provides customers
s and content
services as easy transfer of contact
kup (i.e. ex-
at point of sale, insurance and bac
kup of con -
tended warranty and regular bac
cle serv ice.
tacts and content), and phone recy
also ann oun ced the laun ch of its
Orange
t operating in
mobile widget offering. Set to star
g a selection
May of this year, Orange will brin
gets, such as
of simple, connected mobile wid
to its entire
weather updates and news alerts
e release also
Signature customer base. The sam
multiple
talks about Orange’s plans to add
Shop.
platform support to its Application
ed thre e-ye ar pan -Eu ropean
Orange sign
HP to dist ribu te a ran ge of
agreement with
Min is wit h mob ile and/or
notebooks and HP
acce ss acro ss its mar kets . That
fixed broadband
be able to grab
being said, customers in UK will
30 GBP a
the new HP Compaq Mini 700 for
e con sist s of Ora nge’s “In-
month. The packag
mob ile bro adb and service
ternet Everywhere”
a 3GB dat a allo wan ce
and dongle as well as
Barcelona: A man pours orange juice on an i-Mate 810-F at the
ctur er war ran ty.
GSMA Mobile World Conference. The world's biggest mobile phone and 24 month manufa Barcelona: A man holds an Emporia Telecom phone for senior
event, it aims to unveil the latest innovations . citizens at the Mobile World Congress (GSMA). 67
 Exculsive
Barcelona: US actor Kevin Spacey speaks at the Mobile World Congress. Spacey has been invited to hand
out prizes at the 'Mofilm' event here, which showcases short films made specifically for mobile phones. The
world's biggest mobile phone event.
Barcelona: US actor Kevin Spacey speaks at the Mobile World Congress. Spacey has been invited to hand out prizes at the
'Mofilm' event here, which showcases short films made specifically for mobile phones. The world's biggest mobile phone event.
Nokia Siemens, College of
EM&E taking learning ahead
he College of Electrical and Mechanical
T Engineering (C of EM&E), the largest
constituent college of
(NUST) in Pakistan has signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with Nokia Siemens
National
University of Sciences & Technology
Networks to provide its students with industry
exposure and insights into the latest in telecom
technologies. The association is in line with
Nokia Siemens Networks’ commitment to
contribute to development of higher technical
education in the country and sets a precedent for
many such similar tie-ups.
Commenting on the partnership,
Commandant of College of EM&E Major General
Shahid said, “Against the back drop of a rapidly
growing telecom sector, it is important to
supplement our curriculum with sessions
conducted by experts in the field - this is the best
way to bring our students up to speed with the
industry they will enter in the next few years.”
He adds: “Nokia Siemens Networks is not
only one of the market leaders today but also a
company committed to evolve and expand the
reach of telecommunications as it currently
stands. We believe the collaboration and the
68 delivery model developed and offered by them
Free download | flare.com.pk
Barcelona: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer speaks during a press conference at the 2009
Mobile World Congress.
Barcelona: A hand holds Nokia's new model 6720 classic, on
show at the Mobile World Congress.
Adds Saad M. Waraich, Country Director for
Pakistan and Afghanistan, Nokia Siemens
Networks, “As a corporate that has had a
presence in the country for the past 50 years, we
are in a position to leverage Pakistan’s vast pool
of talented youth, harnessing their potential for
the further advancement of the local industry.
holds great potential for our students.” We are indeed proud to start off an association
Under the scope of the new partnership, with Pakistan’s leading institute and are looking
senior managers from Nokia Siemens Networks forward to extending co-operation with other
will conduct lectures for the Electrical and like minded universities. “
A total of five in-class modules, of
which four will be in mobile networks
and one in fixed networks will be
provided as part of the program. The
four Mobile Network modules will
include Mobile Networks Today,
Evolution towards 3G, Future of Mobile
Networks, Implementation, Project
Management & Network Care. The
Fixed Networks module will include
topics like Evolution from PSTN to
Next Generation Networks and
Broadband Access, Transmission & IP
Core. An additional module will be
based on a visit to the Nokia Siemens
Representatives Nokia Simens Networks and College of Electrical Networks’ Telecoms Expertise facility at
and Mechanical Engineering swaps documents of MoU.
Islamabad.
Computer Engineering students of EM&E All these module sets will be delivered
College. In addition to offering a scholarship within the span of one semester. EM&E students
program to two selected students, Nokia will also benefit from the three Web Based
Siemens Networks will also provide internship Training modules that Nokia Siemens Networks
opportunities to two students per semester, will install on the university’s platform & these
imparting to them valuable hands-on experience. modules will be accessible via the internet.

Free download | flare.com.pk
he Federal Trade
T Commission's new
policies focus on
targeted advertising
that tracks consumer
behaviour online. "The time for
baby steps to protect online
privacy is long passed, there
need to be laws," said Jeff
Chester of the Centre for Digital
Democracy. "Self-regulation
simply hasn't worked," he said.
"The Commission is
supposed to serve as the
nation's leading consumer
protection agency. But for too
long it has buried its mandate
in the 'digital' sand, as far as
ensuring US consumer privacy
is protected online. "The FTC
should have recommended that
Congress enact legislation and
give people control over what
information is collected and
how it is used," Chester told.
For the last year the
Commission has been looking
at the issue of online marketing,
which has grown into a
$20billion a year industry by Privacy groups say widely-anticipated
pitching adverts at consumers
based on what websites they
recommendations on how websites collect, save
have visited. and share information about users don't protect
In its 48-page Staff Report
on Behavioural Advertising,
the FTC expanded on the agency's guidelines for
online marketers set out in 2007 and said it aimed
to "encourage privacy protections while
maintaining a competitive marketplace". The
changes concern "transparency and consumer
control, reasonable security and limited data
retention, consumer consent for major changes to
existing privacy policies and affirmative
consumer consent for using sensitive data for
behavioural advertising".
However two members of the FTC
questioned whether the self-regulatory approach
laid out in the new report will be effective.
"Industry needs to do a better job of meaningful,
rigorous self-regulation or it will certainly invite
legislation by Congress and a more regulatory
approach by our Commission," Commissioner
Jon Leibowitz wrote in a statement released with
the report. "A day of reckoning may be fast
approaching," he warned.
"This staff report, while commendable,
The changes concern
"transparency and
consumer control,
reasonable security and
limited data retention,
consumer consent for major
changes to existing privacy
policies and affirmative
consumer consent for using
sensitive data for
behavioural advertising"
the public
Children and teenagers are seen as the most vulnerable
group online
focuses too narrowly," said Commissioner
Pamela Jones Harbour. "Threats to consumer
privacy abound, both online and offline, and
behavioural advertising represents just one
aspect of a multifaceted privacy conundrum
surrounding data collection and use," she said.
The comments of both Commissioners were
applauded by a series of privacy groups who all
said the Commission had "dropped the ball" on
the issue of protecting consumers. "The FTC did
a punt" on the question of sensitive information
regarding health, finances or children claimed
Pam Dixon the executive director of the World
Privacy Forum.
"Instead of specifically saying how this
information should be treated, the FTC
encouraged the industry, consumers and privacy
advocates to develop more specific standards to
address the issue.” This area is very difficult and
we were looking to the FTC to help set specific
standards. The bottom line is that the FTC fell
down on the job," said Dixon.
Flare Report InsighT
On the FTC's issue of urging
companies that provide online
advertising to get users' consent
before collecting general data,
criticism came from Chris
Hoofnagle the director of the
Centre for Law and Technology
at Berkeley University. "The
cumulative burden of having to
opt out of every company using
this approach means no
consumer will. Opt out in this
context is calculated to fail," he
said.
"The report was a downer"
when it comes to protecting
children and teenagers online,
said Corie Wright, a senior
counsel with the Institute for
Public Representation which filed
comments to the FTC on behalf of
children's advocacy groups.
"There are some populations,
namely children and teenagers
that are so vulnerable that we
should say ‘hands off’ don't
target these groups. They are not
sophisticated or cognitively able
to make decisions in a
meaningful way about their data.
"It's predatory to take their
information and target them
when they are not aware of what
they are giving up," Ms Wright
told.
The Commission, which awaits President
Obama's appointment of a new chairman was
described by Mr Chester as "the last official act
of the Bush administration".
In response to the FTC report, four of the
major advertising trade organisations have
agreed to step up efforts to maintain self-
regulatory policies that were set over a year ago
by the Federal Trade Commission.
The four bodies - the American Association of
Advertising Agencies, the Association of
National Advertisers, the Direct Marketing
Association and the Interactive Advertising
Bureau - have come together, they say, to
"develop a cohesive and far-reaching self-
regulatory effort for interactive advertising". This
is the first time the entire marketing and media
industry has come together in such a way.
Meanwhile search giant Google said while it
supports "federal consumer privacy legislation it
backs the FTC in its latest recommendations".
"The FTC principles underscore that in a fast-
evolving space like the Internet, a self-regulatory
approach is the best way to protect consumers
and promote innovation," said senior policy
counsel Pablo Chavez.

69
Free download | flare.com.pk Saad Farooq InsighT

5 or fewer hours using a computer each week,

about 16 percent reported neck pain; among
students reporting 25 to 30 hours of computer
use a week, nearly 48 per cent reported neck
pain.
Smith’s team says their findings “have
confirmed the need to educate new computer
users (school students) about appropriate
ergonomics and postural health.”

Are internet
addicted kids
more violent?
“Or some other third factor could
cause both: People with poor
Computers paining neck social skills don’t have any
friends, so they spend a lot of
time on the internet and can’t
Computers may be more than a proverbial pain in the resolve conflicts in non-
neck; using them for extended periods may actually cause aggressive ways”

A
new study from Taiwan links aggression
or aggravate neck pain, at least in teenage school kids in teens to heavy internet use, but its
findings are being questioned by some
he cause of neck pain is not just physical, psychosocial factors that have been proved to be

T
American researchers. The research,
doctors in Germany have shown. They say central for development and prognosis of neck based on questionnaires about internet use and
that psychological distress - particularly pain.” behaviour filled out by 9,405 adolescents, classified
depression and anxiety - are closely linked to Computers may be more than a proverbial 25 per cent of the boys and 13 per cent of the girls as
persistent neck pain. pain in the neck; using them for extended internet addicts.
When people with neck pain seek treatment, periods may actually cause or aggravate neck Of that group of internet addicts, 37 per cent
Dr Martin Scherer told Reuters Health, “For pain, at least in teenage school kids. reported showing aggression, such as threatening
or harming others, in the past year - compared with
successful long-term results, it is essential to Among students enrolled in grades 10 to 12
13 per cent of the girls and 32 percent of the boys
consider psychosocial factors and to include at schools in Western Cape, South Africa, “there overall.
them into therapeutic strategies.” was a steady increase in the report of neck pain
Scherer, at the University of Gottingen, and as the number of hours using the computer per
his associated studied 448 patients in Germany week increased,” physiotherapist Leonie Smith
who had suffered at least one episode of neck told Reuters Health.
pain. More than half of the subjects (56 per cent) In 2006, Smith, at Stellenbosch University in
reported neck pain on the day they completed Tygerberg, South Africa, and colleagues assessed
the questionnaire and 26 per cent had constant duration of computer use and reports of
neck pain during the past year. headache and neck pain among 1,073 students
Based on their (65 per cent girls), who
responses to a standard
assessment questionnaire,
“Neck pain therapies are more were 16 years old on
average.
The research team, from Kaohsiung Medical
University in Taiwan, wrote that internet activities
20 per cent of subjects likely to be (effective) if care Nearly half the could provide opportunities for young people to
were classified as having for chronic patients is not only students (48 per cent) “Observe, experience and try aggressive behaviours
depressive mood, and 28
per cent were found to be
symptom-oriented but focuses attended schools that
used computers, the
resulting in positive outcome, (such as)
identification in a group, being a hero or winning in
anxious, the investigators on psychosocial factors that researchers report in the games.” Their study appears online in the ‘Journal
report in the journal BMC have been proved to be central journal ‘Cephalalgia’. of Adolescent Health’.
Of the students However, American researchers who have
Musculoskeletal
Disorders.
for development and enrolled in schools with
studied violence in society have a bone to pick with
prognosis of neck pain” that finding. Though earlier research has tied the
According to Scherer computer training, 43 per playing of violent video games to increasingly
and colleagues, cent used computers for aggressive thoughts and acts, the Taiwanese study
individuals with depressive mood or anxiety 8.5 hours or more per week. The investigators “does not demonstrate that behaviour caused the
were highly likely to have the highest levels of noted similar duration of use in just 5.5 per cent other,” Dewey Cornell, a professor of education at
neck pain. of the students enrolled in schools without the University of Virginia, said in a news release
The results, the researchers say, suggest that computer training. issued by the journal.
the degree of neck pain is related to the degree “No clear association could be found between Another US professor noted that the study failed
of psychological distress. “To put it in other high hours of computer use and the presence of to answer a basic chicken-and-egg question. “It
could be that using the internet causes people to
words,” they write, “the higher the pain level in headaches,” said Smith, despite common reports
behave more aggressively, or it could be that
patients with (neck) problems, the more attention of headache among the students, and
aggressive people seek out the internet,” University
should be paid to psychosocial distress as an particularly female students. of Michigan psychology professor Brad Bushman
additional burden.” By contrast, neck pain was more common said in the same news release. “Or some other third
The findings, Scherer told Reuters Health, among students who also reported longer hours factor could cause both: People with poor social
“underline that neck pain therapies are more of computer use, regardless of computer skills don’t have any friends, so they spend a lot of
likely to be (effective) if care for chronic patients availability at school. time on the internet and can’t resolve conflicts in
is not only symptom-oriented but focuses on For instance, among the students who spent non-aggressive ways.”
71
 Technobabble Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

lectricity crisis is nothing new in

E the developing world; there are

more than two billion people who
have limited or no access to
electricity. Industries have gone into heavy
losses due to unexpected continuous load
shedding. These countries have bright
future for handset makers and cellular
operators because there markets are
emerging and penetration level is low.
There is also room for investment.
Mobile set manufacturers are targeting
their products to this part of the world to
gain better revenue with low development
cost. The products of our age are focussing
on the economy of electricity. It has been
recently seen that solar base stations are
installed in countries like Pakistan.
A very strong initiative has been taken
by three cell phone makers, Samsung, ZTE
and LG, to throw solar handsets in the
market. Solar powered, eco-friendly phones
were introduced in Mobile World Congress
in Barcelona, Spain.
Solar products focus on affordable
prices, eco friendly and recycled material.
They tackle issues of emerging markets
with economical solutions. Analysts say the
key to success for a solar-powered phone is
the recharge time required to fill the battery. A
salesman for Samsung claimed 10-14 hours in the
sun would give a user four hours of talk time on
the Blue Earth, which can also be plugged in. Solar products focus on affordable prices, eco friendly and
Samsung’s full charge taking recycled material. They tackle issues of emerging markets
10-14 hours in the sun would with economical solutions. Analysts say the key to success
offer about four hours of talk for a solar-powered phone is the recharge time required to
time. The phone can also be fill the battery
plugged in to charge, with The device is to be launched initially in Samsung's green strategy. Thus, guaranteed to
Europe in the second half of 2009 but is likely to be free from nasty harmful substances such as
the solar panels used to top be out of the price range of a worker in the brominates flame retardants, Beryllium and
up the battery to extend its developing world. A Samsung representative phthalates.
said it would be a mid to high-end handset. The charger is a five star energy efficient
power. It is likely to launch model which uses
standby power lower
initially in Europe in the than 0.03W, and the
second half of 2009 but is handset includes full
touch screen and an
likely to be out of the price eco-friendly energy
range of a worker in the efficient mode, which
reduces screen
developing world brightness and
backlight duration.
On the other hand, Coral-200-Solar has a Samsung says that
charge of one hour in full sunlight would offer with the "eco-walk"
15 minutes of talk time adding that the phone function with the built
could be charged normally with an electricity in pedometer, eco-
supply. Fellow South Korean manufacturer LG warriors can count
Electronics also put a prototype solar-powered their steps and
phone on display although the handset is not calculate how much
ready for market. carbon dioxide
The South Korean manufacturer put its "Blue emissions they have
Earth" phone with mini solar panels located on Barcelona:An man holds the Samsung new Blue Earth model on show at the Mobile saved by not driving.
the back of the phone. "This type of device would World Congress in Barcelona. As to the carbon
be ideal for developing markets where workers A full charge taking 10-14 hours in the sun neutral nature of the phone, Samsung is of course
have long hours and don't have access to would offer about four hours of talk time. The following in the footsteps of Motorola who,
electricity," commented Nick Lane, chief phone can also be plugged in to charge, with the while it has other problems on its mind, last
researcher at consultancy Direct2 Mobile. solar panels used to top up the battery to extend month unveiled a phone made from recycled
"It would also interest consumers with an eye its power. water bottles. Dubbed the Moto W233 Renew the
on the 'green' aspects, or companies and their The phone, designed with the aesthetics of a handset is said to be completely recyclable.
CSR (corporate social responsibility) flat and rounded pebble in mind, is made from Motorola said it had reduced packaging for
72 programmes." recycled plastic water bottles, in line with the phone by 22 per cent. The Renew will be
Free download | flare.com.pk
"There is an opportunity for
solar-powered phones in
emerging markets," he said.
"That there are businesses
charging up mobiles shows
there is a latent demand for a
charging device where there
is not a regular supply of
power"
available through T-Mobile USA during the first
quarter of 2009.
The handset, called Coral-200-Solar launched
by Chinese group ZTE, uses Dutch technology to
boost the current from a single mini solar panel,
which is located on the back of the phone and
measures 3.0 centimetres by 7.0 (1.2 inches by
2.8).
"In our lives (in the rich world), an
interruption of power is a nuisance ... but it is
infrequent," Digicel executive Tom Bryant told.
"But where we conduct business, the absence of
power is a daily activity."
ZTE has partnered with emerging market
network operator Digicel, which is to launch the
device in Haiti, Samoa and Papua New Guinea
and believes sales in the first year will reach
"several hundred thousand."
He said Digicel, which is active in the
Caribbean, Central American and Pacific regions,
currently offered small separate solar-powered
chargers with handsets in many countries where
energy is scarce.
joint plan of World Bank (WB) and
A Pakistan Software Export Board
(PSEB) to prepare a roadmap for
export-oriented national IT industry is
likely to be accomplished within a month, a top
official told.
The project which has started few months ago
will chalk out strategies for the public and
private sectors development programmes in the
promotion of IT industry, which will be sent to
the government for approval of funds.
The government will also endorse the PSEB’s
financial grant request to WB for the
development of various IT industry projects to
be designed under this plan. The global funding
organisation is expected to provide financial aid
and technical support to develop a
comprehensive and export-oriented strategy for
PSEB’s financial grant
request to WB for the
development of various IT
industry projects to be
designed under this plan
A spokeswoman for ZTE said the company's
version would be the first ultra-low-cost solar
handset pitched at the poor. It is expected to have
a screen and buttons on one side and solar panels
on the other.
"There is an opportunity for solar-powered
phones in emerging markets," he said. "That
there are businesses charging up mobiles shows
there is a latent demand for a charging device
where there is not a regular supply of power."
The mobile phone industry appears to have
embraced the potential of solar power, which
could extend phone services to the millions
excluded because they have no, or a highly
irregular, power supply. The advance also raises
the possibility of other consumer electronic
devices being sold cheaply in emerging countries
using highly efficient solar technology.
This is going to be the beginning of a new era
in the realm of telecommunications. More and
more people from the third world will have
access to those handsets if they are cheap that are
environment friendly and easy to carry.

Solar chargers
for summer
As the summer is right round the corner,
we’ll all be gabbing a little more on our mobiles
- avoid the dead phone scenario by picking up a
Solar Mobile Phone Charger. This nifty little
charger is equipped with adapters for Nokia,
Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung phones.
the IT industry, an official told.
Moreover, the joint framework will further be
discussed with all the representatives of IT
industry stakeholders particularly Pakistan
Software Houses Association (PSHA) before the
board forwarding it to the government for
approval of funding.
As per policy, PSEB will streamline the active
support and efforts of Board of Investment and
Trade Development Authority (TDAP) to pursue
the government’s back in the promotion of
investment and service exports of IT industry.
Managing Director PSEB Talib Baluch told
the national IT plan will obtain proposals from
all the stakeholders of the industry so the joint
plan would be framed to expedite industry’s
growth in a rapid pace. He added that WB in
collaboration with PSEB has been working on to
sort out basic challenges for the national IT
industry that includes advanced infrastructure,
human resources education programmes, service
and product marketing and logistic support.
Baloch further briefed that the main objective
of the plan is to enhance country’s exports to
various parts of the world through building and
facilitation of IT industry with the high
preference.
Technobabble
The charger can recharge a battery in just
three hours when exposed to bright sunlight. It’s
ideal for the sun-worshipping holiday maker
who wants to avoid buying a gazillion
international power adapters for their mobile.
Solar Charger
The Solar Mobile Phone Charger can also be
used to charge almost all of your rechargeable
small gadgets including CD and MP3 players,
digital cameras and PDAs. It’s even got a car and
an AC adapter that can be used to supplement
the power generation of the charger’s solar
panels.
The charger comes in a handy plastic clam-
shell. This neat form factor opens to reveal a pair
of solar receptors. The dimensions of this
ingenious charger are 88 mm long, 60 mm wide
and a mere 2.3 mm deep and weighs 88g. The
charger can operate in most ambient
environments with an optimum temperature
scale of between 5 and 35 degrees Celsius and an
operating voltage range of 4.6 to 5.5 volts. It is
available for £21.95.

Pakistan’s exports of IT and IT-enabling
services have registered 40 per cent growth with
US$ 118 million in July-January as compared
with the same period a year-ago, it was learnt.
PSEB chief was of the view that
Pakistan IT exports will not be
hurt from the current global
economic slowdown and
sustain its growth in the
developed economies of the
world
PSEB chief was of the view that Pakistan IT
exports will not be hurt from the current global
economic slowdown and sustain its growth in
the developed economies of the world. He
further said that public sector departments are
keen to develop IT industry through expansion
of its exports of products and services to earn
foreign exchange for the country.
This industry can give them immediate
returns as compared to any other industry of the
country without any barriers protectionism and
trade conditionality, he added.
73
 Free download | flare.com.pk
Phone locks prevent unauthorised usage; data lock
protect your mobile data; remote locking lock phone
with a text message; memory card lock password
protect files; call barring restrict incoming or outgoing
calls; certificates for secure transfer of confidential
data
oday’s business executives continuously
T juggle with work-life balance. As the
increasing competition in the market
requires faster response from the workers,
they have an increasing need to stay connected
throughout office hours even when they are
travelling. They want to carry their business
contacts and data with them at all times so that
important decisions can be made at right time and
with right people. The new E-series devices are
designed to satisfy the needs of a competitive
executive who want to enjoy after-office life just
as much as he wants to perform well at work.
A device that is more like a mini-laptop and
allows the user to work on office documents has
critical data stored in it, just like the office
computer. But, what if you lose your mobile
phone? Besides the cost of actually losing a mobile
handset, the cost of losing company data can be so
expensive and ruinous for a business and even
personally with lost contacts and data. More and
more people are sending and receiving
confidential documents using Word, Excel,
PowerPoint and PDF direct to their mobile device
where it is easy to access, store and share. The
advanced security options on Nokia E71 and E66
means that data is protected and if a device is lost
information can be encrypted or erased quickly
and simply - it’s much safer than carrying a laptop
or having a PC stolen from home.
The evolution of mobile networks and devices
has changed the way we communicate, with
people increasingly able to stay in touch through
greater mobility and flexibility than ever before.
This evolution is also changing the way people
work. Time and money can both be saved when
mobile employees have easy access to information
and their corporate IT infrastructure. At the same
time, the security of that information, as well as
the ability to manage access to it has never been
more important.
As mobile workers increasingly access
confidential information within an organisational
IT infrastructure, administrators are faced with
real security concerns. Critical corporate data is at
risk. Questions arise over how mobile access to an
organisation’s network will be controlled and
whether user authentication can be employed.
What happens if a mobile device is lost or
stolen? Can data on the device be encrypted so
proprietary information is protected? And is it
possible to protect mobile devices and the
company network from outside threats from
hackers and viruses? Nokia E-series devices allow
businesses to mobilise their workforce. Each of
these devices incorporates underlying
technologies that allow IT departments to
effectively manage security settings, corporate
applications, and data. They are also designed to
accommodate mission-critical mobile applications
needed in today’s business world like mobile
email and advanced voice calling functions.
Mobile security is not simply a type of software or
solution; it is a combination of solutions that
together best meet the security policies and
practices of the enterprise. It is useful to remember
that business solutions also have their own
security elements.
Flare Report InsighT
Intellisync Device Management is a multi-
platform mobile device management solution,
which includes asset management components
that track hardware and software automatically
on the mobile devices allowing IT management to
develop software and application rollout plans.
Once an organization is able to identify the
devices and their respective assets, Intellisync
Device Management provides the necessary tools
to configure and back up those devices as well as
distribute new updates and critical OS and
application patches over-the-air.
For enterprises, it is essential to be able to
control and manage access to corporate resources
effectively. Only authorised and authenticated
users can be allowed to access information or
corporate services. Mobile access technologies also
need to provide confidentiality to prevent
unauthorised parties from eavesdropping or
intercepting the transferred information. New
mobile solutions must also integrate as easily as
possible with existing enterprise IT
infrastructures.
Nokia has established collaborations with
leading IT vendors, which allow the offering of
products that extend existing IT solutions to the
mobile domain. In many cases administrators can
use the same, well known tools to manage fixed
and mobile solutions simultaneously. This saves
both time and money, reducing the need for extra
training or manual integration. Enterprise mobile
security involves several different areas. The most
tangible element of mobile security for the typical
user is the mobile device and its user interface.
From an end-to-end perspective, mobile security
can be divided into three key areas: mobile device
security, connection security, and content security.
Security within a mobile device entails both
hardware and platform security. Hardware
security enables the storing and execution of
sensitive information and helps ensure that the
device will only run valid software.
Intellisync Device
Management is a
multi-platform mobile device
management solution, which
includes asset management
components that track
hardware and software
automatically on the mobile
devices allowing IT
management to develop
software and application
rollout plans
For example, hardware can be used to detect
unauthorised changes in the software. Platform
security involves the management of services like
the authorisation and Authentication of software,
which helps ensure that only verified applications
can access protected resources. The platform also
typically provides security services for the user
and upper level applications such as application
programming interfaces (APIs) that applications
use to process encrypted data or to access
hardware-based security services. It can also
address usability issues related to security, such
as how the user is prompted and what kind of
prompts he or she is shown.
75
 No Line Rent
Competitive Rates
Crystal Clear Voice
Free VAS
Free download | flare.com.pk National Mosaic

Lahore: UAE Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan condoling with PML-Q
President Ch Shujaat Hussain over the demise of his mother at his residence.

Lahore: UAE Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research H.E. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, CEO Abu Dhahi Group,
Bashir A. Tahir, Member Board, Abu Dhabi Group Pervez Shahid and others offering fateha for the departed soul of the mother of
Ch Shujaat Hussain at his residence.
77
 Mosaic National Free download | flare.com.pk

Lahore: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Abu Dhabi Group, Bashir A. Tahir, cuts the ribbon to inaugurate new head office of Alfalah Insurance Company in Gulberg, Lahore.

Bashir A. Tahir inaugurates Alfalah Insurance new head office

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abu Dhabi Group, Bashir A. Tahir, formally inaugurated the new head office premises of Alfalah Insurance
Company Limited in Gulberg, Lahore on March 9, 2009.
Alfalah Insurance is one of the latest ventures of Abu Dhabi Group in Pakistan and started operation in the last quarter of year 2006. In ad-
dition to Head Office in Lahore, the company has already established presence in Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot. Islamabad and Pe-
shawar with more cities to be added to the branch network soon.
Alfalah Insurance has been licensed by SECP as a non-life insurer and offers all classes of general insurance business including but not
limited to fire, burglary, marine, engineering, energy, health and motor insurance.
On the occasion, Bashir A. Tahir addressed the guests reaffirming the Abu Dhabi Group’s commitment to Pakistan. He stated: ”Abu Dhabi
Group is the largest foreign investor in Pakistan with interest in banking, telecom, real estate and as a responsible corporate citizen con-
tributes heavily in various welfare and social causes.”
“Pakistan has one of the lowest insurance penetration ratio in the area and we see insurance sector in Pakistan offering great potential for
the right players” he further added.

Lahore: Tasneem Nirani Chairman Lahore Gymkhana Club giving away prizes to Lahore: A group photograph of Tasneem Nirani Chairman Lahore Gymkhana Club
position holders of the Warid Gymkhana Golf League 2008-09. with the position holder of the Warid Gymkhana Golf League 2008-09.
78
Free download | flare.com.pk National Mosaic

Lahore: The students capturing the photo at Fatima Memorial College sports festival Lahore: Captain of Wateen Cricket Team Mr Fawad Malik receives shield
event. from the Chief Guest

Lahore: A student capturing the moment through her cell phone during the Annual Islamabad: A group of students viewing the Federal Capital City through
Sports Day of Fatima Jinnah Medical College. the view point Damn-e-Koh.

Islamabad: Visitors keenly viewing exhibition of water colour paintings titled “A Islamabad: A lady visitor practicing at an artisan stall during an exhibition titled Tana
tribute to Old Lahore” by Dr. Ajaz Anwar at National Art Gallery organized by PNCA. Bana Weavers of the Human Soul at Lok Virsa.

Lahore: Traffic Wardens remove the MPA vehicles parked at No Parking Area. Lahore: The policemen engaged to play games on their mobile phones during the duty. 79
 Mosaic International
Barcelona: President and CEO of a mobile communications company
LG electronics Dr Skott Ahn presents a new "Watch Phone" model on
show at the Mobile World Congress.
Hanover: A man works on an advertisement for SD-cards at the
world's biggest high-tech fair CeBIT in Hanover, central Germany. .
80
Free download | flare.com.pk
Tokyo: An employee of Sony, displays a new bio battery (in background), including three cubic cells
that generate enough electricity to drive a Walkman digital music player, and a bio battery (C) power-
ing a fan (bottom) at the International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo. The electric fan is powered by a
bio battery cell whose energy source is a soft drink.
Tokyo: French Junior Minister in charge of Digital Economy, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet (2nd
L) watches a robot cleanings a room as she inspects the latest robot technology.
Manila: Retrenched Filipino semiconductor technician Jennelyn Alvarez (R) attends the first day of
English language communication skills training course for call center jobs to displaced Filipino work-
ers. The retrenched workers mostly from electronics and semiconductor firms in the country and Tai-
wan, applied through a government retraining programme that provides for free skills training for
workers displaced due to the financial meltdown.
Free download | flare.com.pk International Mosaic

Taipei: A model displays a handset unveiled by Taiwan's leading smartphone maker HTC Corpo-
ration. The HTC Touch Cruise handset is the latest of its line of personal navigation cellphone
with a global positioning system.

Barcelona: A woman tries the Ultra Touch by Samsung at the Mobile

World Congress (GSMA).

Barcelona: A visitor talks on the phone at the Mobile World Congress (GSMA).

Barcelona: A Sonim XP3 Sagem underwater phone is on display at the

Mobile World Congress (GSMA). The world's biggest mobile phone Tokyo: Sony employee displays the new stylish digital camera "Cybershot DSC-T900", equipped
event opened this week in Barcelona where the industry is set to un- with a 12.1 mega-pixel CCD, a 6.18 - 24.7mm/F3.5-4.6 zoom lens and a 3.5-inch high-resolution LCD
veil its latest innovations that it hopes will drive demand through the display on the ultra slim body in thickness of 15.1mm.
global economic downturn. 81
Free download | flare.com.pk
Lahore: A group photograph of Member Board of Directors
and Co-Chairman Bank Alfalah Parvez A. Shahid with the
Wateen team the winner Bank Alfalah National Polo
Championship of Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2009 at Lahore
Polo Ground.
Players of Wateen & HSBC Bank polo teams struggling to get
hold on the ball during final of the Bank Alfalah Punjab Polo
Cup 2009.
Spectators watching final match between Hilton Pharma and
Wateen teams during final match.
Spectators watching final match Bank Alfalah Punjab Polo
Cup 2009 between Wateen & HSBC Bank polo teams.
Lahore: Wateen quartet holds the National Polo Trophy while
the chief guest Co-Chairman Bank Alfalah Parvez A. Shahid
looks on.
Players of Wateen & HSBC Bank polo teams struggling to get
hold on the ball during final match.
Spectators watching final match between Hilton Pharma and
Wateen teams.
A Polo craze can be seen.
Azhar Javed Event
Lahore: Players of Hilton Pharma and Wateen teams
struggling to get hold on the ball and score goal during
final match of Bank Alfalah National Polo Championship.
Spectators watching final match of Bank Alfalah Punjab
Polo Cup 2009 between Wateen & HSBC Bank.
Foreigners enjoy the Bank Alfalah Polo Championship
Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup 2009 match.
Enjoying the thrilling moment of the final.
83
 Free download | flare.com.pk Press Release

PTA directs PTCL for detailed, itemised bills

Senior Citizens Foundation of Pakistan has expressed its concern over non-provision of detailed
phone monthly bills to the subscribers by the PTCL
akistan Telecommunication Authority According to the officials, the PTA has Pakistan has expressed its concern over non-

P has directed Pakistan

Telecommunication Company Limited
(PTCL) to issued detailed and itemised
list of all calls in monthly customer bills.
Last two months, PTCL delivered monthly
bills on a single page, without itemised call
details, leaving customers with no details of
their usage. TCL sent one paged bill last month,
on which PTA got plenty of complaints and
concerns from PTCL customers.
directed PTCL to send detailed bills to avoid
any confusion and discomfort of PTCL
customers. Source further revealed that PTA has
asked PTCL to enhance 1217 services.
Reportedly, in its note to PTCL, regulator has
shows its concern over dropping numbers of
PTCL customers. PTA has asked PTCL to keep
customers satisfied in order to regain its
position in the market.
Meanwhile, Senior Citizens Foundation of
provision of detailed phone monthly bills to the
subscribers by the Pakistan Telecommunication
Company Limited (PTCL). n a statement, the
Vice President Senior Citizens Foundation of
Pakistan (SCFP), Prof Syed Wadood Ahmed
Jilani urged the concerned authorities to send
detailed phone bill to the subscribers including
the senior citizens so that they could check the
accuracy of the outgoing phone calls.

Sale of SIMs is being PTA has taken effective measures to eradicate the
menace of unsolicited and unwanted calls/SMS owing to

monitored: PTA which considerable improvement has been reported

while the progress is being monitored regularly
akistan Telecommunication Authority to facilitate mobile users. The Authority has purchase. In contrast, in the new system, a non

P (PTA) is constantly monitoring the sale

of new SIMs according to the newly
launched System of SIM Activation
through NADRA verification.
PTA Zonal Offices located at Karachi,
Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi and
Muzaffarabad are checking authorised
Customer Services Centres, Franchises and
retailers of mobile operators to ensure that no
SIM is sold and activated without adopting new
procedure already in place from February 1,
2009.
In this regard the Authority has also directed
cellular operators to take all possible measures
made it clear that stern action will be taken if
any violation is found and surprise checks of
retailers and franchises will also be conducted.
It merits mention here that PTA has taken
effective measures to eradicate the menace of
unsolicited and unwanted calls/SMS owing to
which considerable improvement has been
reported while the progress is being monitored
regularly.
It may also be mentioned that new system of
SIM activation after verification of consumer
from NADRA was made functional on February
1. Pre-activated SIMs were sold earlier in the
market and could be used instantly after
activated SIM would be sold to the consumer
after checking his original CNIC and filling of
Cellular Service Agreement (CSA) form. The
consumer will then call 789 from the same SIM
and Call Centre would ask few questions to
verify the data provided by the consumer.
After the online verification of the
consumer's antecedents from NADRA, SIM
would be activated in the name of verified
customer. In case of incorrect answers consumer
will be asked to contact Customer Services
Centre of the concerned mobile operator or
NADRA Swift Centre.

PTA to form mobile Race of the retailers

banking group pparently Telecom numbers of unregistered users date.

Mobile banking is a value addition and has utmost

consumer convenience, wherein users can avail
A Companies have nothing
left to offer now days to
customers in terms of
pricing and new VAS services. The
Concept of Customer oriented
banking facilities through mobile communication Marketing seems to been non existent
and looks like that primary Focus is
on Selling Oriented Marketing.
he PTA has decided to form Yaseen said mobile banking is a Mobilink launched this scheme in
Many People claim that their
numbers are still unregistered or
registered on the fake names still
when they completed all the
regulatory procedures. Now this
situation may be different with new
PTA regulations.
Reportedly, Telenor is finding
difficulties to attract the retailers in

T
sector,
a focal group, with
representatives
of

for
mobile
companies and banking
mobile
value addition and has utmost
consumer
convenience,
wherein users can
avail banking
various districts, named as Sirf Jazz
Inami Scheme on 27 February. The
Scheme is to convince retailers to sell
as many SIMs as they can. They have
divided the retailers in A, B, C, and D
suburban areas where there are most
number of people willing to shift
towards Telenor but at the same time,
greater number of un-registered
Mobilink customers.
banking. facilities through on the basis of connection selling. Point which is worth noting that
This decision was mobile Like A category retailer must sell end user is no more a point of
taken in a meeting held communication. above 100 SIMs to compete in a draw concern for the telecom companies .
at the PTA He said that two for Motor Bike. And like this other The retailers are focused to just
headquarters. Senior conferences on categories have different attractions increase the sales of the connections
executives of mobile mobile banking have like television, DVD player, and and definitely retailers will play for
operators, banks and already been held mobile etc. the easier version which is to sell
PTA attended the and another would Not like Telenor, Mobilink offered connections instead of MNP.
meeting. MCB made a be held in Karachi. this prize scheme for new SIM sale, Time will tell that who wins the
presentation on mobile He said the focal instead of MNP, as from records, its real battle, but for now one thing is
banking in Pakistan. group on mobile obvious that MNP has benefited clear that the customers must go on
Different mobile banking models banking would work as a bridge Telenor and Ufone the most. At the long nap. And let the telecom
were also discussed. between mobile companies and same time, another fact is worth companies to prove the Darwin’s
noting that Mobilink has most Phenomenon survival of the fittest.
85
PTA Chairman Dr Mohammed banks.

 Event Flare Report Free download | flare.com.pk

eBIT 2009 got off to a Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,

C powerful start and ended

on a successful note,
boosting optimism in the
world ICT industry. "A majority of
the 4,300 companies from 69
countries drew fresh optimism
from being here at CeBIT,"
commented Ernst Raue, the
Deutsche Messe Managing Board
member in charge of CeBIT, on
March 8 in Hannover, Germany.
"A huge number of exhibitors
and visitors are now leaving
Hannover with a renewed sense of
buoyancy as well as bulging order
books and a solid foundation for
new business." The show had lived
up to their expectations, he added.
More than 400,000 visitors - a
drop of 20 per cent on the previous
year's figure - came to CeBIT 2009
to generate new business. A
marked increase in the trade visitor
ratio, however, meant their
expectations were often exceeded.
representing this year's partner state,
set the right tone to kick off the event.
"His optimistic and determined
attitude strengthened the ICT
industry's resolve to capitalize on all
the available opportunities," asserted
Raue. "This spirit of new momentum
was felt tangibly by everybody at the
show."
CeBIT's growing role as a key
communication forum for the
international ICT sector and its user
industries was reinforced at this
year's event. Thanks to the organisers'
collaboration with the "CIO
colloquium" - an independent
network of Chief Information Officers
from leading German enterprises -
The strong level of visitor interest in the CeBIT was able to create an ideal
match between supply and demand.
CeBIT Global Conferences highlighted the The strong level of visitor interest
vital importance of meeting face-to-face to in the CeBIT Global Conferences
debate the issues and exchange ideas, highlighted the vital importance of
meeting face-to-face to debate the
particularly in times of crisis issues and exchange ideas,

Hannover:German Chancellor Angela Merkel and California Governor Arnold Fairgoers crowd the IBM stand at the world's biggest high-tech fair, the CeBIT, in Hanover.
Schwarzenegger display HTC Magic phones as Vodafone Germany CEO Friedrich Some 4,300 firms from 69 countries will display the latest in information and communica-
Joussen (L) looks on, as they visited the Vodafone stand during their opening tions technology during the fair.
tour of the fair.
"Companies who came well-prepared and visitors alike, delivering real benefits to particularly in times of crisis. "This year's list of
reported a jump in significant business leads of everyone." speakers read like a 'Who's Who' of the
more than 20 per cent," Raue reported. "In terms The percentage of visitors from abroad international ICT industry," said Raue, adding
of all the significant parameters, CeBIT 2009 remained steady at 20 per cent. A decrease in that CeBIT's significance as an economic policy
attained the same high level as last year's event. attendance from Asia was offset by increased platform was also emphasised by the presence of
We are delighted with the run of the show. This attendance from the Americas and the Middle over 100 political delegations from around the
CeBIT has been a good investment for exhibitors East. The opening address by California world.

A woman presents the T-Mobile G1 (R) mobile device by Deutsche Telekom and Hannover: A hostess presents a cell phone for seniors made by Emporia at the
the i-Phone 3G by Apple at the world's biggest high-tech fair CeBIT in Hanover, high-tech fair, the CeBIT.
86 central Germany.
Free download | flare.com.pk Event

showcase their role as

"The organisation of a trade ICT innovations
drivers. The TeleHealth
fair with a truly global impact, congress and expo
featured the use of IT
involving the participation of solutions in the health
care sector, while
4,300 exhibitors and more exhibitors at Public
Sector Parc presented
than 400,000 attendees - solutions for greater
particularly in times like efficiency in public
administration.
these - is a real achievement "The organisation of
a trade fair with a truly
for us and the industry as a global impact,
involving the
whole, underlining the participation of 4,300
exhibitors and more Hannover: A hostess presents a Eee-Keyboard, a computer in the form of a keyboard,
drawing power of CeBIT" than 400,000 attendees - made by Asus at the CeBIT.
particularly in times
like these - is a real
achievement for us and
the industry as a whole,
underlining the
drawing power of
CeBIT," Raue said. "We
are once more seen as a
dynamic event. Several
companies who
decided against having
their own stand this
year have expressed a
clear interest in
rejoining the event in
2010."
The next CeBIT
will be staged from 2
to 6 March 2010 in Hanover: A rechargeable battery which can be charged via USB interface sticks in a note-
Hannover. book at the world's biggest high-tech fair CeBIT in Hanover, central Germany.

Hanover: A woman presents the new Eee PC T 91 by Asus
at fair CeBIT.
The spotlight this year was on higher
efficiency and lower costs in all areas of business
IT. In Green IT World, exhibitors from
international big business demonstrated that the
deployment of green technologies can result in
significant reductions in corporate cost
structures.
The new Webciety area featured business-
oriented web applications and business models.
"This new concept was a real success, and has
broadened the appeal of CeBIT in the corporate
sector. Half of all Webciety exhibitors have
already confirmed they will be back next year,"
Raue said. The automotiveDAY event was also a
great success. "We plan to continue this move
towards verticalisation to achieve an even
greater in-depth focus on the issues."
The new generation of smart phones,
netbooks and navigation systems highlighted
future trends for the mobile internet. And Planet
Reseller - a special display open to trade visitors
only - gave resellers an opportunity to place their
orders directly at the show.
"Security World" featured discussion and
debate among leading experts on the future
challenges in IT security. Future Parc provided
research institutes with an opportunity to
Global
recession
caste sharp
decline in
vendors
Europe’s largest IT fair, CeBIT, saw its lowest
number of exhibitors in a decade as companies
slash marketing expenditures due to the global
recession.
Deutsche Messe which runs the event is
expecting just 4300 companies from 69 nations.
That is down by more than 26 per cent from 2008,
when 5845 companies participated. The figures
mark a multiyear downturn for CeBIT, which
An employee poses with a pair of Eagle-1 video glasses
uses aircraft-hangar size halls on enormous
with a live feed (background) at the world's biggest high-
fairgrounds in Hanover, Germany.
tech fair, the CeBIT, in Hanover. The glasses boast the
In 2006, CeBIT had 6262 exhibitors and in world's smallest camera, a 1GB storage device and a
2001 as many as 8000 exhibitors. The largest micro-SD slot for additional memory.
drop-off in attendance is coming from vendors
in countries such as China, Taiwan and South for Deutsche Messe, who is responsible for CeBIT
Korea, says Sven Prüser, senior vice-president events worldwide.
87
 Mosaic International/Amazing World Free download | flare.com.pk

Taipei: A visitor takes pictures of plants designed as a Berlin: Polar bear Knut catches a fish thrown to him at Kawasaki: A Japanese musician Sachi holds empty
face at a rose garden at Shihlin. his snow covered enclosure at the zoo. bottles blowing into them to play music at a concert
without instruments.

Barcelona: Iranian Ameneh Bahrami poses in Barcelona

holding a photograph of herself before she was blinded by a
man who threw acid in her face.

Karachi: Donkey carters participate in a race. The race was held as part of the Hamara Karachi Festival.

Cologne: A majorette jumps through the air as she takes part in the "Rose Monday" carnival parade in Newbridge: A model displays an iconic white jeweled
the western German city of Cologne. glove and a selection of onstage costumes, owned by US
88 pop star Michael Jackson at the Museum of Style Icons.
 Free download | flare.com.pk Press Release

aisar Shareef, Country Manager Pakistan, said: “P&G Pakistan believes

P&G to build home

in SOS village
Q P&G Pakistan inaugurated Procter
and Gamble (P&G) Pakistan’s first
orphan home in partnership with
SOS Children’s Villages of Pakistan. This
marks P&G Pakistan’s first social partnership
strongly in benefiting the communities in
which it operates and enabling them to sustain
their development.”

in orphan-care, with a vision to providing

In Pakistan, P&G is working on many
long term educational and health
initiatives and partnerships, including
the “Safe Schooling for Building
Futures” which provides safe, seismic
compliant schools with READ
Foundation in Azad Jammu &
Kashmir; benefiting more than 2,200
children; Safeguard’s Sehat-o-Safai
educational campaign in schools all
over Pakistan
homes to promote the well-being, education
and housing of Pakistani orphans, under
P&G’s corporate cause of Live, Learn and
Thrive. This project will be completed in the
next two years.
Sharing his views, H.E. Dr Michael
Stigelbauer, Ambassador of Austria to
Pakistan said, “It was 60 years ago when the Safia Awan, Vice President of SOS
SOS Children’s Villages was registered in Children’s Villages of Pakistan, expressed her
Austria. Today, while they still have their views, “The first SOS Children’s Village was
home in Austria, the results of the efforts of the set up in Lahore in 1977 and I am proud to
SOS Children’s Villages are visible across the share with you that the organisation has come
world. There are 11 projects in Pakistan and I a long way since then. Our goal is to continue
am pleased to be part of the P&G-SOS Home expansion until there are sufficient facilities to
Foundation Laying Ceremony.” reach orphaned and abandoned children all
Qaisar Shareef, Country Manager P&G over the country.”

New LTE software module is a significant

Alcatel-Lucent unveils LTE step in Alcatel-Lucent’s strategy to deliver the
“ultimate wireless broadband experience”
wireless broadband portfolio deployed and field-proven with Alcatel-Lucent’s
3G customers. This baseband module integrates
o help wireless and converged service

T
providers meet the accelerating demand
for broadband wireless data services,
Alcatel-Lucent introduced a software
module that enables service providers to expand
the capabilities of their wireless networks through
the rapid introduction of long term evolution
(LTE) technology.
The software module is a key component of
the company’s enhanced NodeB (eNodeB)
solution and represents a major step forward in
the company’s strategy to support the delivery of
next-generation wireless services worldwide. The
software module is already in trials with tier-one
service providers around the world, and will be
generally available in mid-2009.
The LTE software module can be loaded onto
the Alcatel-Lucent 9326 Digital 2U eNode B – a
“zero footprint” baseband module already widely
easily into existing base station cabinets, enabling
a seamless evolution to LTE via software-only
upgrade. It provides high capacity and high
throughput with improved response time for new
service offerings and enables operators to quickly
and flexibly add LTE capability to their existing
networks.
Alcatel-Lucent’s LTE solution complies with
the latest 3GPP standards and incorporates
innovations from Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs such as
Self-Organising and Self-Optimising (SON)
capabilities that facilitate the rapid introduction of
services and ensure that the network is
dynamically optimised.

Agricultural challenges call for Pacific Japan revenue

industry to sustain agriculture grows by 23pc
AP Asia Pacific Japan continued to outperform the

D
iscussing the challenges faced by
agriculture, Jerry Steiner,
executive vice president of
Monsanto noted that the world
faces significant increase in food demand as
well as growing population. Experts say it
will be necessary to produce as much food
between now and 2050 as has been
produced in the last 10,000 years, he
disclosed.
The current economic downturn and
growing agricultural challenges require the
industry players to combine efforts in
ensuring agricultural sustainability by
producing more while conserving resources
in a sustainable manner.
This message was shared by him with
the industry stakeholders during his
presentation at the World Grains Trade
Summit 2009 in Singapore. He reiterated
Monsanto’s determined focus to contribute
in increasing crop yield while reducing
agriculture’s ecological footprint. To meet
these challenges, Mr. Steiner said that
Monsanto’s contribution to a more
sustainable agriculture is based on three-
point commitment.
‘Conserve resources’, where Monsanto
will develop seeds that will reduce by one-
third the amount of key resources per unit
produced by the year 2030. The company
will also join with others to address habitat
loss and water quality in agriculturally
important areas.
‘Help improve farmers’ lives’, where the
company will help improve the lives of
farmers, including an additional five
million people in resource-poor farm
families by 2020.

S business software market across the Region in 2008.
SAP Asia Pacific Japan remains SAP AG’s fastest
growing region with 23 per cent Software Revenue
growth, to €594 million. Software and Software Related
Services grew at 24 per cent for the year, to €1.192 billion. All
revenue figures in this release are expressed in non-GAAP
constant currency terms and all growth is measured against
the previous comparable period.
SAP continued to fair well in South East Asia, achieving a
20 per cent growth in Software Revenue and 19 per cent
growth in Software and Software Related services for the full
year of 2008. Emerging markets like Vietnam, Cambodia and
Pakistan especially showed strong results, with 89 per cent
growth in both Software, and Software and Software Related
Services revenue.
The current economic and business environment is
challenging for everyone – not just for SAP, but also for SAP
Customers. Yet new opportunities continue to emerge as SAP
Customers look for solutions which provide better business
insight, more efficiency and greater agility, to help them 89
through these difficult times.

 Press Release Free download | flare.com.pk

Wateen's senior management presented

Telecom Integrated demonstrations about Wateen's data and IP-based

System by Wateen solutions, security surveillance, hosted contact and

data centre and system integration solutions
ateen, Pakistan's largest WiMAX System Integrator of choice and provided

W service provider organised a high

traffic event entitled "Telecom
System Integrated" in Karachi. At
the event, Wateen's senior management presented
demonstrations about Wateen's data and IP-based
solutions, security surveillance, hosted contact
and data centre and system integration solutions.
Representatives from the banking and
financial sectors, service and distribution, media
houses, IT companies, call centres and
manufacturing and construction sectors attended
and displayed their interest. Wateen interacted
with the audience and explained how these
products could be easily integrated into their
existing infrastructure for better business,
Wateen team at the stall.
accelerated growth and robust development.
Wateen has positioned itself as the Telecom
awareness to the customers of the
importance of IP-based solutions and how
they can be effective in matching the
demands of the market today.
Wateen’s range of products and value-
added services which include voice and
telephony over WiMAX, Fibre and satellite
connectivity, automated intelligent
security and surveillance and managed
services and applications was displayed at
the event. The audience had the
opportunity to experience Wateen’s
solutions and engage the speakers in an
interactive QnA session.

Oracle database 11g Intel to invest $7bn in

sets another TPC-C U.S. manufacturing
World Record facilities
racle announced a new a price/performance of The technology used in Intel’s manufacturing process

O world record TPC-C

benchmark for Oracle®
Database 11g Standard
Edition One running on Windows.
With this result, Oracle now holds
the top four record benchmark
positions in the Top Ten TPC-C
price/performance category.
This benchmark result further
demonstrates Oracle's commitment
to providing enterprise-class
scalability and performance at a low
cost to customers of any size.
Oracle Database 11g Standard
Edition One is an affordable, full-
featured database for servers with
up to two sockets that provides
enterprise-class performance,
reliability, security and is simple to
manage and scale. Achieving
104,492 transactions per minute with
US$.60/tpmC, Oracle Database 11g
Standard Edition One running on a
Windows-based Dell server with
one Intel® Quad-Core Xeon® 2.83
GHz processor, delivered the best
price-per-transaction-per-minute
ever achieved with the TPC-C
benchmark. Oracle continues to lead
in the TPC-C Price/Performance
category with the top results on
Windows and Linux.
TPC-C is an OLTP (online
transaction processing) benchmark
developed by the Transaction
Processing Performance Council
(TPC). The TPC-C benchmark
defines a rigorous standard for
calculating performance and
price/performance measured by
transactions per minute (tpmC) and
$/tpmC, respectively.

builds chip circuitry 32nm across – incredibly small,
atomic level structures
ntel President and CEO Paul
I Otellini recently announced the
company would spend US$ 7
billion over the next two years
to build advanced manufacturing
facilities in the United States. The
investment funds deployment of
Intel’s industry-leading 32 nano
meter (nm) manufacturing
technology that will be used to build
faster, smaller chips that consume
less energy.
Intel’s investment will be made
at existing manufacturing sites in
Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico
and will support approximately
7000 high-wage, high-skill jobs at
those locations - part of a total Intel
workforce of more than 45,000 in the
U.S. Intel, while generating more
than 75 per cent of its sales overseas,
carries out roughly 75 per cent of its
semiconductor manufacturing in the
U.S. At the same time, about 75 per
cent of the company’s R&D
spending and capital investments
are also made in the U.S.
The first Intel processors to be
built using this technology are
codenamed “Westmere” and will
initially be used in desktop and
mobile mainstream systems.
Westmere combines Intel’s latest
high-performance micro-
architecture (“Nehalem”) with
graphics capability integrated into
the processor.

Dubai Software Expo: Pakistan’s

representative ZRG
RG International, the market leader in attended by corporate executives, IT

Z Contact Centre Technology recently

participated in Middle East Call Centre
'09 (MECC 2009) Exhibition at the Dubai
International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
MECC ‘09 consisted of a high level conference
and exhibition which gave a comprehensive
update on the best practices and proven
techniques and technologies for today’s evolving
contact centres.
90
This exhibition and a conference were
managers and other call centre professionals.
ZRG team displayed their innovative
solution suite including IP contact centre,
CRM, outbound campaign management, call
recording and evaluation tools and contact
centre quality management solutions.
in improving the service experience of customers.
Latest contact centre technology and solutions
Visitors showed eagerness to learn about the best
were on display at MECC ‘09 and most of the
practices, innovative ideas and ways to enhance
delegates and visitors of the event acknowledged
their customer service operations.

the true potential of the contact centre technology
Free download | flare.com.pk
Grants for OIC states
launched
Islamabad: The
Organisation of the Islamic
Conference Standing
Committee on Scientific and
Technological Cooperation
(COMSTECH) has
announced joint research
grants for the young scientists
of the OIC member-states.
Fourteen grants
amounting to US$ 15000 each
shall be awarded to young
scientists up to the age of
forty years for the projects of
maximum 18 months'
duration which is being made
in collaboration with the
Academy of Sciences for the
Developing World (TWAS).
COMSTECH and TWAS
have fixed US$ 200,000/per
Warid stops
call
summary
report
Warid Telecom has
blocked call summary report
service from March 2009 as
per message received via
SMS, “Dear Customer, You
can check your account
balance free of cost by
dialling *100#. End of call
notification service will not
be available from 9th March
2009.
Warid top level
management believed that
this decision was taken under
its policy to enhance network
utilisation, especially during
the peak hours.

AbacusConsulting beat Telenor by 45 runs
Lahore: AbacusConsulting, squad, led by Abbas Ali
region’s leading Khan, comprised of Hisan
Management Consultancy, Ahmad, Muhammed Amir
played a cricket match over Mazhar Bhatti, Jawad, Anas
the weekend, against and Ahmed.
Telenor Pakistan Customer
Relations Division (CRD). won the toss and put
The AbacusConsulting AbacusConsulting in to bat.
annum for this programme.
The COMSTECH has set
March 31, 2009, as the first
and August 31, 2009 as the
second deadline for
submitting applications to
either COMSTECH
Secretariat in Islamabad,
Pakistan, or to TWAS in
Trieste, Italy. The aspiring
young scientists must be
resident nationals of any of
the OIC member states.
Application forms and more
information about eligibility
conditions, requirements, and
contact person's phone
numbers, email and postal
addresses is available at
www.comstech.org and
www.twas.org.

IT has tremendous scope
Karachi: The Information
Technology has tremendous
scope globally for which joint
efforts between the public
and the private sector should
be made to eliminate the
gaps. This was highlighted at
a meeting on "Fact Finding
and Strategy to Boost the IT
Sector in Pakistan" organised
by the Services Export
Development Cell (SEDC), a
newly formed division at the
Trade Development
Authority of Pakistan.
Mujeeb Khan, Head, WTO
Cell, TDAP, initiated the
meeting by elaborating the
role of Services Export
Development Cell, one of its
major tasks being to support
the IT sector in Pakistan and
create market access for local
IT industry.
Naqash
Butt,
Hassan
Aqha, Ejaz
Balouch,
Mairaj Din,
Bilal
Anjum,
Laeeq
Ahmed,
Kamran
Sharif,
Telenor Pakistan (CRD)
Mobilink
and Box
Office join
hands
Karachi: Mobilink and
Box Office have announced
the launching of
“Watchmen,” the highly
anticipated blockbuster of
2009 in cinemas across the
country on March 6.
An American superhero
film directed by Zack Snyder,
Watchmen is based on the
1986 comic book limited
series of the same name by
Alan Moore and Dave
Gibbons, now included in the
“100 Best English Novels”
from 1923 till present.

Asif Ali Sheikh, Director
General, Services Export
Development Cell, TDAP,
reiterated and further
elaborated the importance of
the coordinated efforts
between the government and
private sector to tap the true
potential of the IT industry.
Talib Baloch, Managing
Director, Pakistan Software
Export Board, while
AbacusConsulting scored
267 runs in the allocated 30
over’s. Laeeq and Ejaz
played some great shots, and
scored 60 and 41
respectively. Nauman was
the pick of the bowlers with
2 wickets.
In reply, Telenor Pakistan
(CRD) managed to score
only 222 runs. Waqas and
Salman scored 33 and 25
respectively. From
AbacusConsulting Jawad
and Mairaj took 3 wickets
each and Ejaz took two
wickets. Ejaz was declared
Delivery Report Notifications
the man of the match for his
of text messages anymore – at
batting and bowling
least for now. Ufone has
performances.

UAE: Pak’s 3rd largest
trading partner
Islamabad: Federal
Minister for Commerce,
Makhdoom Amin Fahim said
that UAE has become third
largest trading partner of
Pakistan.
He was talking to the
Ambassador of UAE, Ali Saif
Sultan Al-Awani and the
High Commissioner of
Canada, Randolph Mank,
who called on him at his
office. Secretary Commerce,
Salman Ghani was also
present on the occasion.
Amin Fahim urged the
UAE ambassador to use his
good offices for Pakistan’s
free trade agreement (FTA)
with Gulf Cooperation
Council. He said that total
trade volume with UAE is
emphasising
undermining
on the
issues,
categorically stated that
Pakistan can take its due
market share only after
eliminating the core obstacles
which include lack of a
proper legal and logistic
framework, security issues,
financing to the local
companies and means to
develop and retain quality
human resource.
Ms Jehan Ara, President
Pakistan Software Houses
Association (PASHA)
apprised the audience of the
fact that IT companies have
been impacted by the global
economic crunch. She
expressed the need for a
National Policy to drive IT at
this point in time, to get rid of
the hurdles.

Ufone stops SMS
delivery notification
Ufone will not be sending
Synopsis
US$ 5483 million with exports
from Pakistan
2070million.
US$
Main exports from
Pakistan to UAE are apparels
of fissile material, chemical
materials, and construction
material including cements,
whereas chemical materials
and products are the main
imports from UAE.
He said that Pakistan
needed some best kind of
preferences in trade with
Canada, adding that the
country was looking at Joint
Commission, which is to be
held very soon for trade
development. The trade
volume between Canada and
Pakistan is US$ 800 million.

Wateen still
on top
ratings
Karachi: JCR-VIS Credit
Rating Company Limited
has maintained medium to
long-term entity rating of
Wateen Telecom (Pvt) Ltd at
‘A’.
Its short-term entity
rating has been revised to
‘A2’ from ‘A1’.
Outlook on the medium
to long-term rating has been
revised from positive to
stable.
Wateen Telecom has
deployed a nationwide long-
haul optic fibre cable
network over 6,000kms
connecting all major cities of
the country.

quietly taken back this useful
service back without
informing its customers, to
maximise its SMS traffic
capacity.
It may be recalled that
Ufone had recently
announced its Unlimited SMS
Package. We don’t have
official confirmation about
Ufone’s system choking but
reportedly Ufone customers
have reported delays in SMS
deliveries. Consequently,
SMS delivery Notification
service was taken back to
enhance capacity.
91
 Synopsis National Free download | flare.com.pk

Action against gateway exchange scam DIB grows reaches

Islamabad:
Assembly
National
Standing
investigation report
submitted by Former State
said the business of national
gateway exchange has been 40,000 customers in 2008
Committee on Information Minister Raza Hayat Hiraj closed after the scam. Islamabad: Mr Khalid A. in sustained business
Technology has ordered with regard to International Besides taking strict Kamda, Chairman of the growth despite turbulent
action against those Gateway exchange scandal. notice with regard to closing Board of Directors DIB economic conditions. Eight
involved in financial The committee expressed of various exchange by Pakistan chaired the Board new branches were opened
irregularities in National annoyance over no action PTCL and stubborn of Meeting of DIB Pakistan and customer base has
Telecommunication against responsible of behaviour of its staff with Limited to review the grown to over 40,000.”
Cooperation and gateway exchange scandal customers, the committee
International Gateway despite report of four also expressed annoyance
Exchange scandal during the investigation committees. over the financial deficit of
former regime. Secretary Information national Phone industry of
Chairman Chaudhary Technology told the Pakistan. Chairman
Bargis Tahir chaired the committee that NTC has Committee also directed
committee meeting held in suffered loss amounting to responsible authorities to fill
Parliament house in which Rs 1.57 billion so far due to vacant Posts of NTC
matters of NTC and illegal gateway business. He immediately.

Ufone and Dell signed agreement

Karachi: Ufone has signed EDGE USB device through customers experience the
an agreement with the Unitech, Dell's authorised power of its latest notebook
computer company Dell to dealer in Pakistan. series but also enjoy one
month of free speedy internet
access through a free Ufone
EDGE USB device -
supported by a state-of-the-
art EDGE network available
in all major metropolitan
cities of Pakistan.
Upon purchase of any Dell
Vostro Series Notebook from
any Unitech authorised dealer
in Pakistan, buyers will gets a
Dell/Ufone co-branded
voucher which when shown
at any of the Ufone Customer
Service Centres will be
verified via the new PTA 789
Karachi: Ufone Chief Marketing Officer Asher Yaqub Khan and
Regional MD Dell Andreas Diantoro exchanges documents after SIM activation initiative and
signing an agreement. the customer can get a free
Ufone EDGE USB with a
offer the latest Dell Vostro This exclusive prepaid SIM, six months free
Notebook experience bundled collaboration between Ufone warranty and one month free
with Ufone's high speed and Dell will not only let Dell mobile internet access.

(From L-R) Khaled Al Kamda, Chairman DIB Pakistan; Shaukat Tareen,
Advisor to PM on Finance; Fahad Bin Fahad, Vice Chairman DIB Pak-
istan; Junaid Ahmed, Chief International Head DIB; M. A. Mannan, CEO
DIB Pakistan; Saad Zaman, Deputy CEO DIB after meeting.
bank’s performance and Addressing the occasion,
formulate framework for CEO DIB Pakistan, M. A.
future operations and Mannan said: “DIBPL is
expansion in Pakistan. The running profitable
meeting was attended by operations in Pakistan since
Fahad Bin Fahad, Vice the last quarter of 2008, and
Chairman DIB Pakistan; this positive trend is
Junaid Ahmed Chief expected to continue for the
International Head DIB; year 2009. DIBPL achieved
Saad Zaman, Deputy CEO 58 per cent growth in
DIB Capital; M. A. Mannan, deposits and 59 per cent in
CEO DIB Pakistan and other financing during 2008. We
directors of the board. Mr closed the year at an asset
Khaled Al Kamda, base of over Rs 30 billion,
Chairman, Board of deposits of over Rs 25
Directors, Dubai Islamic billion and a network of 25
Bank said " Our prudent strategically placed
and innovative credit and branches. We are confident
risk management policies that DIBPL will achieve
have led to a quality asset greater milestones during
portfolio and have resulted the coming year.”

Nokia Siemens’ unified Telenor Persona’s Mehran

Charging, Billing unique billing Director PR
Karachi: The leading
mobile prepaid and
providers to improve
customer experience and
Islamabad:
Pakistan has
Telenor facilitating their customers by
launched launching an innovative way
at PTA
charging supplier, Nokia generate more revenue is to of paying their mobile phone
Karachi: Khurram Ali
Siemens Networks, has make sure money related bills. Customers no longer
launched 'charge@once issues are carefree and have to visit service centers or Mehran has been promoted
unified' and 'charge@once customer care is fast and franchise offices to pay their as Director Public Relations,
business' as part of its efficient. The Nokia Siemens bills. This can now be done Pakistan
convergent Unified Networks Unified Charging from over 175,000 locations Telecommunication
Charging and Billing and Billing offers one throughout the country. Authority (PTA). Earlier he
solution that modular It provides smarter tariffs,
was serving as Deputy
offers solution for the most competitive rates
service prepaid and ease of access. The Director Public Relations.
providers charging and company has focused on He has vast experience in
the flexible post-paid keeping the packages journalism, broadcasting
and billing as affordable, clear and simple. and public relations. He has
personalised service well as customer care. It Telenor Pakistan has 19.38 also been engaged in
approach essential to enables service providers to million consumers as per
lecturing and research on
driving revenues in a offer their customers service Persona for the first time in Pakistan Telecommunication
competitive market place. and price plans based on Pakistan at competitive rates Authority (PTA) figures for media affairs with different
One vital way for service personal preferences.
with the objective of December 2008.
universities.

92
Free download | flare.com.pk Synopsis

PTA to start CPC Microsoft expands affordable PCs

Islamabad: Pakistan
Telecommunication
Authority (PTA) would soon
establish a special Consumer
Protection Cell (CPC) aiming
to provide instant remedy to
mobile phone users against
the alleged extra or hidden
charges by some service
providers.
Chairman PTA Dr
Muhammad Yaseen told that
the cell would redress the
complaints of the mobile
users. He assured that the
PTA was also trying hard to
secure reduction of taxes on
mobile calls in the next
budget.
Now-a-days negotiations
are under way with the
operators and consumers to
formulate regulations and the
Consumer Protection Cell
would start operations soon
after completion of the
negotiations.
In a bid to lure renowned
vendors to initiate mobile
manufacturing in Pakistan,
he added that a research cell
has also been established in
PTA for the purpose.
Pakistan would be made a
hub for international mobile
Internet traffic. Transit
services would be offered to
China, Central Asian States,
Far Eastern countries and
India. This will generate
revenues and also provide
cheap services to country's
mobile Internet users, he
concluded.

Karachi: To expand the
affordable and safe channels
through which local
businesses, households and
schools can obtain
high quality used PCs
in Pakistan, Microsoft
has initiated the
country's first
registered re-
furbisher programme
with the support of 20
partner computer re-
furbishers.
"Microsoft
registered re-
furbisher programme creates
economic opportunities for
both our partners and our
customers," said Ali in Pakistan, we can provide
Hoballah, Middle East and business and technology
Africa regional General resources that ultimately
Manager of the Microsoft improve the community's
ICT skills, create jobs
and accelerate the
country's economic
competitiveness."
Customers in
Pakistan are right to
be concerned about
the quality, reliability,
support, and risk of
counterfeit or
unlicensed software
when buying a used
Unlimited Potential Group. computer in Pakistan," said
"We believe that by Mr Rizwan Yousaf, CEO, Al-
partnering with re-furbishers Aziz Computers.

LG, Intel collaborates Ufone in Mobilink selects

Karachi: LG Electronic
and Intel Corporation have
designs to market.
LG and Intel's common
flight launches MBAs
announced collaboration to unleash rich internet roaming Karachi: Mobilink has The selected individuals
around mobile Internet experiences across a range
devices (MIDs) based on of mobile devices, while service announced its countrywide
programme of selecting top
will act as Mobilink Brand
Ambassadors amongst the
delivering the Karachi: In order to students as Mobilink brand youth. The selected
functionality enable all its valued post- ambassadors (MBAs) from candidates will be imparted
today's high- paid customers to enjoy the leading universities of specialised training
end smart roaming service while including skills in latest
phones. The travelling by air, Ufone, one marketing techniques,
collaboration of the leading telecom training materials and first
on the new companies of Pakistan, has hand exposure to
design introduced the in-flight marketing in a highly
roaming service on challenging environment.
extends a
Emirates flights from The 'MBAs' will be
close working
Middle East to Asia, Europe rewarded with internship
relationship
and USA. Pakistan. The Mobilink certificates, support and
Intel's next generation MID the two companies have This convenience service Brand Ambassador guidance from Mobilink's
hardware platform, code- enjoyed across their from Ufone is exclusively Programme which kicked talented marketing team,
named "Moorestown," and respective mobile products available for all post-paid off at IBA Sukkur aims to chance to win a trip to
Linux-based Moblin v2.0 lines. spans the notebook, customers having select students with an Dubai and most
software platform. The LG netbook and MID international roaming exceptional flair for importantly, a guaranteed
device is expected to be one categories.
service provisioned on their marketing. job interview at Mobilink.

of the first Moorestown subscriptions.

Samsung’s ultra touch Acision to expand R&D

slider phone
Karachi: Samsung
Electronics Co Ltd, a leading
mobile phone provider,
announced the launch of the
elegant ultra touch, the
perfectly beautiful and fully
equipped full touch slider
phone. This debut comes
ahead of Mobile World
Congress in Barcelona,
where Samsung will deliver
its new vision for full touch
mobiles at the forefront of
style and design.
As with previous ultra
editions, the ultra touch
redefines perfectionism in
style, design and technology
now with full touch. "With
its refined contoured
design, Samsung ultra touch
is our elegant full touch
hero at this year's Mobile
World Congress, proving
again that Samsung's mobile
phones are at the forefront
of style," said Steve Han,
country head of Samsung
electronics.

Telenor
Karachi: Acision, the
world’s leading messaging
company, announced that
Telenor Pakistan, one of the
leading mobile operators in
Pakistan, has again selected
the Acision SMSC to expand
its messaging capacity to
cater for continued SMS
traffic growth.
With a capacity
expansion of up to 250 per
cent, Telenor Pakistan is
well prepared to meet the
messaging requirements of
its fast growing subscriber
base. Pakistan mobile
market is experiencing rapid
subscriber growth with
thousands of customers
signing up every month.
The growth in subscriber
rate has consequently led
way to triple digit growth in
messaging traffic over the
last year. Acision SMSC
offers Telenor Pakistan a
complete solution to
support the operator's entire
SMS business managing
enormous messaging
volumes with undisputed
quality of service.

funding for
ICTs
Islamabad: National ICT
R & D Fund, Ministry of IT
and Telecom organised a
symposium on research and
development funding
opportunities for ICTs and
other stakeholders. Hifz-ur-
Rehman, Federal Secretary,
IT & telecom was chief guest.
The symposium was held
for academicians and
industry, stressing the need
for conceiving innovative
ideas and developing
proposals in the field of
information communication
technologies .
93
 Synopsis
Microsoft servers for
SMEs
Karachi: Microsoft will
market two server products
- Essential Business Server
(EBS) and Small Business
Server (SBS) to cater to the
medium and small scale
units.
“Most mid-size
businesses need to reduce
complexity of their IT
infrastructure; protect their
PTA, ATRA vow to enhance
cooperation in telecom sector
Pakistan
Telecommunication
Authority (PTA) and
Afghanistan Telecom
Regulatory Authority
(ATRA) have agreed to
enhance mutual cooperation
in the field of
telecommunication.
Moreover, the PTA will
extend its help to ATRA for
the furtherance of telecom
services in Afghanistan.
This was decided at a
meeting of both the
authorities at the PTA
Headquarters here on Friday.
The high level delegation of
Afghanistan Telecom
Regulatory Authority headed
by Chairman, ATRA, Zakaria
Hassan is presently visiting
PIA appoints Globe Air
Cargo
Managing Director PIA,
Capt Aijaz Haroon and
Managing Director Globe Air
Cargo, Mark Pulling has
Tuesday signed an agreement
at the airline’s head office
appointing Globe Air Cargo
as its exclusive Cargo General
Sales and Service Agent in
UK.
Globe Air Cargo is a part
of European Cargo Services
having 42 subsidiaries and 3
handling platforms that are
operating in thirty countries
94 across the world with major
business assets; and
increase employee impact
and effectiveness”, said
Shahzad Khan, manager
OEM Business, Microsoft
Pakistan.
With these servers the
SMEs can reduce costs and
compete with software to
improve efficiency,
reliability and flexibility.
Mohsin Iqbal, country
general manager of Al-
Futtaim Technologies
Pakistan said under this
initiative SMEs can get
increased productivity at a
price well below what they
usually pay for stand alone
products.

Pakistan.
On this occasion,
Chairman PTA, Dr.
Mohammed Yaseen briefed
the delegation on Pakistan
telecom sector development.
The Chairman said that
the operators from Pakistan
are willing to extend fiber
optic links to Afghanistan
after which Pakistan will be
connected to Central Asian
Countries, Central States and
Afghanistan could also be
linked to the International Sea
Cable System through
Pakistan. He proposed the
formation of a joint working
group to expedite this process
and to enhance mutual
cooperation.
Chairman, ATRA, Zakaria
business stakes in Europe and
the USA.
ECS group represents
more than 100 airlines and
has a turnover of 389 million
Euros in 2007.
The airline is also
planning to appoint Cargo
GSAs for its valued
customers in Hong Kong and
Malaysia in coming weeks, he
said and added PIA is
presently operating 24 flights
per week to UK from
Pakistan with wide bodied B-
777’s and A-310’s

NA body discusses
PTCL
Islamabad: Chairman
National Assembly Standing
Committee on Information
Technology and
Telecommunications
Chaudhry Muhammad
Berjees Tahir, chaired a
meeting at the Parliament
House, wherein the body
discussed complaints made
by the members and
consumers regarding the
poor performance and
deteriorating standard of
PTCL.
The Committee was told
that 170 exchanges have
already been closed and more
exchanges are being closed
and shut down. They
Hassan said that Afghanistan
opened up its telecom sector
in 2003 and since then it has
made rapid progress.
"We want to get benefit of
Pakistan experience in
telecommunication areas
such as interconnect costing
models and tariff regulations
also showed interest in the
training from Pakistan," he
added.
It was decided that
Memorandum of
understanding (MoU) will be
signed to enhance mutual
cooperation in training, sea
cables system and
interference. On this occasion,
the representatives of Afghan
telecom and senior PTA
officials were also present.

Emirates to add 18 new aircraft soon
Karachi: Emirates Airline
unveiled plans to grow the
number of flights across its
network by 14 per cent in
2009.
This year, the Dubai-
based carrier will add 18
new passenger aircraft to its
fleet, increasing seating
capacity by 14 per cent and
enabling it to start new
routes as well as increase
frequencies on many existing
routes. It will also expand
cargo capacity by 17 per cent.
Free download | flare.com.pk
strongly recommended that
no exchange should be
closed, misplaced or sold
forthwith.
The Committee took a
serious note of the violation
of contract between Etisalat
and Government of Pakistan
in which Etisalat having only
26 per cent of shares holds the
management of PTCL and
does not bother about the
complaints made by the
Members of the Parliament
and consumers. The
Committee also directed the
PTCL management to
facilitate the customers and
not burden them with extra
call charges.

NADRA's e-Sahulat,
phase II to launch
Karachi: After successful
launch of Phase-l of its e-
Sahulat project in different
areas of the country, the
National Database & are operating in Lahore,
Registration Authority
(NADRA) is planning to
expand this network to
Karachi.
The Phase-I of (e-Sahulat)
was launched in February
2008 country wide. NADRA
received big response from
the public and more than
2500 outlets were franchised
for providing facilities to
general public.
These e-Sahulat outlets
are deployed through out
Pakistan with 60 per cent in
Punjab, 10 per cent in Sindh, 7
per cent in NWFP, 2 per cent
The additional
frequencies will afford
passengers a greater choice
of flights, more frequent
connections with their target
markets and shorter, more
convenient connection times.
Emirates currently has a
fleet of 129 wide-bodied
aircraft. By the end of the
2008-09 financial year
(ending 31st March 2009),
that figure will stand at 132,
including four super-jumbo
Airbus A380s. The carrier
Etisalat, FC
Barcelona
partners
Islamabad: Etisalat
announced a partnership
agreement with FC
Barcelona, the renowned
European football club,
known familiarly as Barça,
and ranked Number 1 in the
list of the greatest football
clubs of the last 18 years by
international organisation
IFFHS.
The four year partnership
agreement will entitle Etisalat
and its international
subsidiaries to become the
"Official International
Telecom Partner of FC
Barcelona" in their respective
countries.

in Baluchistan and 21 per cent
in slamabad/Rawalpindi and
adjoining areas. In major
urban centres, 1060 outlets
followed by 729 in Multan
and 642 in Islamabad
respectively.
This facility is run by
small entrepreneurs who
usually work long hours that
facilitate the consumers to
deposit their utility bills even
after bank hours. To outreach
kiosk operations and to allow
consumers to take advantage
of NADRA services such as
collection of utility bills,
dispensing pins for scratch
cards and online verification
(verisvs), e-Sahulat scheme
has been introduced.

will welcome a further seven
A380s in fiscal year 2009-10
(ending 31st March 2010), as
well as 10 Boeing 777-300ER,
one 777-200LR and one
Boeing 777 freighter.
It will also introduce
services from Dubai to
Durban, South Africa on 1st
October 2009. The route will
be served by a two-class,
278-seat Airbus A330-200
which can carry up to 14
tonnes of cargo into the port
city.

Free download | flare.com.pk
Mobilink top 100
Global Operator Brands
Islamabad: Mobilink is the
only Pakistani cellular
operator to have been ranked
amongst the Top 100 Mobile
Operator Brands in the World
by Informa Telecoms &
Media.
According to the survey
by Mobile Communications
International, which
evaluated the Top 100 cellular
Nokia Siemens wins in
China
Finnish-German telecom
equipment maker Nokia
Siemens Networks (NSN)
said it had won two network
deals worth a total of around
880 million euros in China.
China's leading telecom
operators China Mobile and
China Unicom had ordered
mobile network equipment
and services from NSN, it
said in a statement. The deals
came within the framework
of a 10 billion dollar package
negotiated by a delegation of
more than 200 Chinese
companies currently visiting
Germany.
For China Unicom, NSN
said it would deliver
networks based on third
BTS tower opposed
Taxila: A base transceiver
station (BTS) tower, generally
known as cell phone tower, is
being installed in the middle
of the busy and congested
residential area of Taxila
Cantonment without
approval of the environment
department and the
Cantonment Board.
A visit to the area showed
that in sheer violation of
procedures, by-laws and
existing rules, a cellular
company was installing the
tower on Zafar Ali Khan road
in the middle of a residential
area without taking approval
from the environment
department and the
brands in the world on
various criterion of quality,
service and perceptions,
Mobilink has been ranked 3rd
among the
“Brands Punching
Above Their
Weight” category
ahead of Airtel,
Tata Indicom and
Reliance which stand 4th, 5th
and 6th respectively. Overall,
Mobilink is ranked 6th.
The methodology,
analysis and criterion of the
survey were based on the
brands’ ability to generate
generation "wideband code
division multiple access"
(WCDMA) technology to 11
provinces across the country.
China Mobile had
meanwhile ordered networks
using second generation
GSM technology and China's
own third generation
standard TD-SCDMA
technologies.

Cantonment Board.
The residents of Haideri
Town said they had written
to the chief secretary for
immediate halt to the tower
installation.
The residents said under
the Pakistan Environment
Protection Act 1997, the
construction of a cell phone
tower was not allowed in
residential areas. They said
the company had started the
installation work even before
getting the NOC. They said
most of the towers in the area
had been installed in
residential areas without
proper safety measures that
may lead to an untoward
future income and evaluated
by analysing historic
performance, future
predictions and activity
plans, thus estimating a
realistic brand royalty,
compound annual growth
rate (CAGR) and long term
ability for growth. The
research forecasted sales for
500 of the world's biggest
mobile operator brands and
the top 100 brands were given
indefinite “lives” as they are
all market leaders, with
heritage and financially
robust owners.

Warid quickens
facebook uploading
Karachi: Warid
subscribers can now upload
their multimedia pictures
and videos to Facebook
from their mobile phone
without using a computer.
By introducing the new
service 'Upload photos @
Facebook' the company has
made it possible for its
subscribers to add their
pictures and videos
instantly just by sending
the file as an MMS through
their mobile phone to
mobile@facebook.com.
Facebook is the most
famous social networking
web site where users not
only communicate with
incident during extreme
weathers.
It was also observed that
the tower was being installed
a few feet away from a multi-
storey residential flats and a
mosque while according to
law if anyone installs a BTS
tower in an open plot it
should be situated at least 200
feet away from the residential
area.

Warid offers upload
photos @ Facebook
Karachi: Warid Telecom
(Pvt) Limited, while providing
best quality mobile phone
communications and value-
added services has presented
another innovative feature for
its subscribers. Warid
subscribers can now upload
their multimedia pictures and
videos to Facebook from their
mobile phone without using a
computer.
By introducing the new
service Upload photos @
Facebook the company has
made it possible for its
subscribers to add their
pictures and videos instantly
just by sending the file as an
their friends and family but
also networking with other
people and communities.
Warid's Acting Chief
Executive Officer Faisal
Ejaz Khan said, "Social
contact is the voice of the
modern era and Facebook is
one of the most sought after
online community."
Warid's Deputy General
Manager Products and
Services Babar Ahmad said,
"This service fulfills this
dream of our subscriber
and we will continue to add
excitement to using mobile
phones by introducing
innovative services in the
days to come."

Zong is now postpaid
Lahore: Zong, the first
international brand of
China Mobile has
announced its entry into the
“postpaid” market
following a huge increase in
its prepaid subscribers’
base across the country.
The key features of the
Zong Postpaid include
same airtime rates for both
onnet and offnet
subscribers besides keeping
the rates competitive and
simple with no hidden
charges or catches.
Zong will be offering
state-of-the-art payment
solution; postpaid customer
can pay through scratch
Synopsis
MMS through their mobile
phone to
mobile@facebook.com.
Facebook is the most famous
social networking website
where users not only
communicate with their
friends and family. Warids
Acting Chief Executive Officer,
Faisal Ejaz Khan said, "Social
contact is the voice of the
modern era and Facebook is
one of the most sought after
online community. Warid is
pleased to introduce this
attractive facility with the
intent of keeping people
connected with their families
and friends."

Nokia
unveils Ovi
Store
Lahore: Nokia has
unveiled the Ovi Store - the
world’s first content and
application store to
personalise content according
to a person’s social
connections and physical
location.
Nokia also made it easier
than ever to get email on your
phone with the launch of the
Nokia E75 and Nokia E55,
which open up access to the
world’s email inboxes and
feature. Nokia introduced the
latest arrival in its Navigator
line, the Nokia 6710
Navigator, and Nokia 6720
classic, which build on the
Nokia heritage of mid-range
phones that deliver top-of-
the-range experiences.

cards, miniload, cash, credit
cards, debit cards etc. It will
also be providing a web-
based “do-it-yourself”
customer service interface
where the customers can
change or add anything in
their subscription from
friends and family numbers
addition or modification to
mobile payments.
The company will not
block any number (security
deposit paid) till the time
credit limit is reached -
even if the customers have
not paid their bills for
months (being inside their
credit limit).

95
 Synopsis International Free download | flare.com.pk

SMS sends behind the bars Connected Home

A British court awarded
Labour Peer Lord Nazir
Ahmed a 12-week jail
sentence after he was found
guilty of dangerous driving
which resulted in a fatal
motorway accident at
Christmas time in 2007. Lord
Ahmed of Rotherham was
said to be responding to a text
message from his cell phone
shortly before the accident
happened.
Appointed as a Labour
peer in 1998, Lord Ahmed
was driving his Jaguar X-type
on the Motorway when it hit
another car that had crashed
into the central reservation
and stopped in the outside
lane.
The driver of the other car,
Martyn Gombar, 28, was
killed on the spot. The police
investigation has centred on
reports that someone in the
car used Lord Ahmedbs
mobile telephone to send a
text message to a journalist
shortly before the crash.
It was claimed that the
message was sent from his
car about three minutes
before the same telephone
Gateway BY Ericsson
Ericsson will launch its
Connected Home Gateway
software at the Mobile World
Congress in Barcelona, Spain,
giving consumers the
freedom to access and
interact with their home
multimedia devices, services
and media, wherever they
are. The gateway also enables
one single entry point for
IPTV and multimedia
was used to call 999. The telephony services into the
member of the House of home.
Lords is expected to appeal Installed in the home,
against his conviction.
Ericsson Connected Home
Gateway achieves all of this
by providing a secure
connection between
consumers’ digital home
networks and the
telecommunications network,
and a single point of entry for
IPTV and communication
services, such as multimedia
telephony.
Consumers can then
use their mobile devices, such
as mobile phone and laptops
to communicate directly with
their computer, TV or media
player.

New Skeleton Gold China's 3G Buildout to Drive a

Luxury Mobile
Europe: After a great
success met with the Skeleton
Collection, introduced in
December 2008, Gresso is
proud to present a gold
version of the collection, now
limited of 50 pieces.
The signature feature of
Skeleton Gold is the open back
executed of sapphire crystal,
which will allow the
customers to admire the inner
mechanism of the device. This
peculiarity is inspired by
complicated swiss skeleton
watches.
Each of 23 functional keys
of Skeleton Gold is executed of
18K gold with the application
of ultra-precision turning
technology. This technology
ensures the super excellent
precision and impeccable
shape of each detail. There is a
gold triangle on the front
panel of the case. The screen of
the phone is framed by hand-
polished 42K sapphire glass.
All the special features of
Skeleton collection remained
in the new model. The case is
executed of special titanium
alloy with scratch-proof high-
tech ceramic coverage. The
sapphire glass on the back
panel is decorated with the
Gresso logo covered with 10
micron gold. Roman numerals
on the keyboard are an
innovative by Gresso.
Another invention
patented by the company is
the magnetic lock of the
battery cover. The cover is
executed of stainless steel and
decorated with genuine
leather. The name of the
collection and individual
serial number of the phone are
laser-engraved on the metal
plate under the battery
cover.

Telecom Capex Increase
USA: Despite an overall that are poised to win declines in GDP for most
economic contraction, network contracts in the competitive countries in the Asia/Pacific
operator spending on telecom Asia/Pacific market. Three region, operators throughout
equipment in the Asia/Pacific case studies on NTT DoCoMo, the region have stuck to their
region will rise slightly over China Mobile, and Bharti overall investment plans, with
the next 24 months, driven Airtel focus on the capex plans 4G and national broadband
primarily by deployment of network
3G networks in China, investments
according to a new report from leading the
Pyramid Research. agenda, notes
"Capex in Asia/Pacific: Tae-Hyung Kim,
Driven by 3G in China, analyst at
spending to rise despite global Pyramid Research
downturn" analyses the and author of the
drivers that make investing in report. "Markets
infrastructure imperative for such as Japan,
operators in Asia/Pacific. This Singapore, and
13 page report puts the South Korea are
revenue generated in Asia into seeing an ever-
a global context and looks at increasing
the plans for future capital appetite for
expenditure (capex) in both of the main players in Japan, higher-bandwidth
developed and emerging China, and India, providing applications on mobile
markets in the region. The metrics, such as capex, as a networks and increasing
report also identifies and percentage of service revenue. mobile broadband adoption
analyses technology suppliers Despite anticipated rates."

Queen Elizabeth revamps royal YouTube testing video

website
London: Queen
Elizabeth II re-launched the
British monarchy's web site
with the help of World
Wide Web inventor Tim
Berners-Lee. The
royal.gov.uk site has been
revamped to make it easier
96 to use and now features
new technology, including
audio and video footage
and interactive maps.
It includes expanded
content on Queen
Elizabeth's role as head of
state of her 15 other realms,
including Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and
Jamaica. The site also
contains more information
on other members of the
royal family, such as heir to
the throne Prince Charles
and his sons Princes
William and Harry.
The royal web site was
launched in 1997 and was
first overhauled in 2001. It is
visited by approximately
250,000 users per week.
Berners-Lee was invited to
its re-launch with the queen
in London. Queen Elizabeth
sent her first email in 1976,
during a visit to an army
base, and has been keeping
pace with new technology
in recent years.

downloads
San Francisco: YouTube
said it is dabbling with letting
people download videos to
computers as an alternative to
watching clips streamed over
the internet. Video owners
would be able to offer
downloads for free or for
small fees paid through a
Google Checkout service,
according to YouTube
product manager Thai Tran.
Many video creators on
YouTube want their work to
be seen far and wide," Tran
wrote in a YouTube blog
post. "They don't mind
sharing their work, provided
that they get the proper
credit."
YouTube has been seeking
ways to make money off
videos shared at the popular
web site and address
complaints from film and
television studios worried
that pirated material is
swapped there.
Video copyright owners
would be able to provide
Creative Commons permits
that license YouTube
members to reuse content
within specified limits.
Lecture videos from classes at
a set of US universities
including Stanford and Duke
are being offered as free
downloads at YouTube as
part of a test of the service.

Free download | flare.com.pk
Tata Communications to
inject $430m
Singapore: Indian
telecoms firm Tata
Communications is investing
US$ 430 million in an Asian
Internet data centre and cable
system, the firm said. "These
investments are a key part of
the company's commitment
to enhance its robust global
infrastructure as part of its
US$ two billion expansion
Facebook, Nokia to
bring social network to
mobiles
Washington: Facebook is
in discussions with Nokia on
ways to integrate the wildly
popular social network into
mobile phones made by the
Finnish giant, The Wall Street
Journal reported.
The newspaper, citing
"people familiar with the
matter," said Palo Alto,
California based Facebook
and Nokia were discussing a
partnership that would
embed parts of the social
network into some Nokia
phones.
The newspaper said
Nokia, the world's largest
mobile phone maker, was
deciding whether it wanted
Microsoft, Nokia offer app stores
The success of Apple's
AppStore for iPhone and
iPod Touch has prompted
two major rivals to follow
suit. Handset giant Nokia
and Microsoft have
announced their own
versions of the online
markets for mobile device
application software, or apps.
From May, Nokia's Ovi
Store will offer apps as well
as multimedia content
specific to a user's location.
Microsoft's new "Windows
Phones" will feature
Windows Marketplace,
launching in the last quarter
of 2009. Microsoft has also
plan over three years," it said
in a statement.
Earlier, a person familiar
with the situation told that
Tata Communications will
invest about US$ 180 million
dollars in the data centre and
another US$ 250 million for
the cable system. The data
centre will be operational in
2010 to provide increased
capacity for both domestic
and international companies,
allowing them to realise cost
efficiencies along with greater
service availability and
performance, the company
statement said.

to team up with an
established web player like
Facebook or "build a social
network from the ground
up."

announced a service allowing
synchronisation and backup
of data from mobiles "in the
cloud".
One of the standout
stories from 2008 in the
mobile communications
world was the success of
Apple's AppStore - a
marketplace allowing
developers to write
programmes ranging from
productivity utilities to
games.
At the Mobile World
Congress in Barcelona, there
are reports that other firms -
from Blackberry's Research
in Motion to Samsung - will
Future of VoIP in the remote
emerging markets
At a high level, though,
the first thing to say is that
emerging markets generally
lack the telecom
infrastructure that we take for
granted in developed
markets. Their SMB sectors
are often fairly new,
especially in economies that
have only recently become
open or less government
regulated. These factors
create promising
opportunities for VoIP,
especially because VoIP can
be deployed in a variety of
ways.
First and foremost, these
markets typically lack legacy
telephony services, so when
businesses are ready for
telephony, it will be easier to
go straight to VoIP. There will
not be any issues about
whether VoIP is reliable
enough or comparable to
Mobile connections
surpass 4bn
Amsterdam: The number
of connections on mobile
phone networks has crossed
the four billion mark
worldwide, industry
association GSMA said
forecasting further growth to
six billion by 2013.
The number of
connections does not
translate directly into the
number of users, however,
because in many mature
markets, one user may have
also follow Apple's lead.
Mobile operator Orange
announced a similar
marketplace for mobile
"widgets" earlier.
Nokia's Ovi Store brings
together its existing
download service with its
multimedia service MOSH,
along with the now-familiar
concept of a marketplace for
apps. Like Apple, Nokia will
take a 30 per cent cut of
profits from selling apps, and
has already partnered with a
number of firms to provide
content, including EA games,
Facebook, MySpace, and
Lonely Planet.

TDM. Adoption should be
rapid, not just because it is an
affordable form of telephony,
but also because is it easier,
faster and cheaper for carriers
to deploy than legacy service.
The second aspect in
VoIP's favour is how far it has
evolved in the past few years.
Vendors, developers, carriers,
channels and standards
bodies are much more
aligned today, making VoIP
truly business-grade, either
as a standalone service or
integrated with other
services. This makes VoIP
more versatile than ever, and
accessible for emerging
markets. For some, VoIP will
be attractive for basic
telephony, and for others, it
will be used more for
advanced features such as
visual voicemail or web
based conferencing. And yet
two mobile phones, or a
phone and a mobile data
device, which would both
count as two connections.
In Western Europe, about
a fifth of connections are
estimated to be due to one
user having more than one
device, a figure that probably
applies to many developed
markets, a GSMA spokesman
said. In developing countries,
by contrast, phones are often
shared.

Venezuela
unveils $ 14
mobile
phone
Caracas: Venezuela is to
start selling in May a mobile
phone it is billing as one of
the worlds cheapest: a 14-dol-
lar handset that includes an
MP3 player, radio and cam-
era. President Hugo Chavez
unveiled the phone - named
"El Vergatario" - on Thurs-
day, saying it would be pro-
duced by a joint
Venezuelan-Chinese firm and
marketed across Latin Amer-
ica and the Caribbean.
Synopsis
for others, VoIP will be used
with 2.0 style web services
that become more valuable
when they are voice enabled.
In terms of serving remote
markets, VoIP may have the
most to offer. Many emerging
markets have large
populations, and whether
catering to consumers or
businesses, wireless
telephony will be the
preferred route for most
carriers. Wireless VoIP is
gaining widespread adoption
now, and in remote emerging
markets, it will be the most
economical way to provide
telephony. In fact, we expect
opportunity for wireless VoIP
to be greater here than in
developed markets, where
mobile operators have less
incentive to displace cellular
services with lower cost
VoIP.

Hackers
using SQL
attack
San Francisco: Hackers
believed to be based in
Romania have been
launching attacks on software
security firms specialising in
computer defence. Romanian
HackersBlog web site was
claiming three victims:
Finland-based F-Secure,
Kaspersky Labs in Russia,
and a Romanian security
software seller Bit Defender.
Hackers are using an SQL
attack that injects malicious
code through weakness in a
data level of a software
application, according to F-
Secure. Such attacks can be
used to steal information.
Hackers were only able to
access statistics about
malicious software that the
company routinely makes
public. The cyber intruders
could read the data but
couldn't alter it, according to
F-Secure.
Kaspersky Lab said in an
online post that it detected
and fended off an attack on
the official web site for its US
97
office.

 Synopsis
World's fastest wireless Google testing electricity use software
broadband network
Telstra Corporation roll
out what is says is the
world's fastest wireless
broadband network, over
the next two months. Chief
executive Sol Trujillo
announced that Telstra is
increasing the maximum
speed of its Next G mobile
network to 21 megabits per
second (Mbps) for business
customers from the current
maximum of 14.4 Mbps.
Telstra says the faster
speed will be gradually
rolled out for all business
customers through March
and then made available to
consumer customers in
April. Trujillo said Telstra
Telenor's earning
increase in 4th quarter
Oslo: Norwegian
telecommunications group
Telenor said its 2008 fourth
quarter earnings increased
year-on-year, but added it
would not pay a dividend
since it wanted to secure
cash flow. Earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortisation (EBITDA)
were 9.9 billion kroner
compared to 8.8 billion
kroner in the corresponding
business period of 2007.
Sales in the quarter were
up 4 per cent year-on-year
to 29.9 billion kroner. In a
comment, chief executive
Jon Fredrik Baksaas said a
previously announced deal
to secure a 60 per cent
Orange Telecom launches
in Uganda
Orange Uganda, which
has been putting its act
together for two years since it
got a license in 2007, finally
commissioned its mobile
network yesterday promising
higher standards of quality.
The network is the fifth in
the country after MTN, Zain,
Utl and Warid. Company
executives were not,
however, clear about the
current size of their coverage
in the country during the
launch function in Kampala
yesterday. They said they
98 were present in much of the
the California internet titan by PowerMeter prompted
urges increased investment in energy-trimming changes to
would increase the speed to
42 Mbps towards the end of
2009 and in early 2010.
The new speeds will
widen the gap with Telstra's
rival mobile operators,
Optus and the now-merging
Vodafone and Hutchison.
Optus' network operates at a
maximum speed of 7.2
Mpbs, and others at
maximum speeds of 3.6
Mpbs.
Telstra's services cost
more than double its rivals,
with a one GB pack costing
$59 a month. Optus offers 6
GB for US$ 59.99 and
Vodafone offers 5 GB for
US$ 39.95.

controlling stake in Indian
group Unitech Wireless
would be financed through
"a combination of cash
generated from operations
and additional debt."
In order to secure cash
flow, Telenor's board
proposed that no dividend
be paid to shareholders for
2008 or for 2009. Facing a
"more challenging business
environment" in 2009,
Telenor said it would focus
on cost efficiency. Baksaas
said Telenor had added 5.5
million mobile telephone
subscriptions during the
fourth quarter, reaching 164
million subscribers.

South and Southwest and
that they were expanding
daily with additional base
stations.
“We are extending the
coverage of our network day
after day and we are not
about to stop that
dynamism,” Mr Philippe
Luxey, the company’s chief
executive officer, said.
Mr Luxey, though,
suggested that they didn’t
necessarily see getting
customers as a profound
challenge so much as to
retaining them.

San Francisco: Google said
it is refining PowerMeter
software that tells residents
which devices in their homes
are electricity hogs and which
are being frugal with energy.
The announcement comes as
Gates grant to extend
mobile banking
Barcelona: Microsoft
founder Bill Gates has agreed
to help fund a massive rollout
of projects enabling poor
mobile phone users to
transfer money using their
handsets. The GSM
Association, which represents
750 mobile phone networks
in the world, said a grant of
US$ 12.5 million from the Bill
and Melinda Gates
Foundation would help fund
20 initiatives in Asia, Africa
and South America.
Money transfer via mobile
Shoppers go online as
internet barriers fall
Singapore: From dresses,
to handbags, diamonds and
music downloads, consumers
in Asia are taking to internet
shopping like never before as
the region becomes one of the
world's fastest growing e-
commerce markets.
Internet retailing is
increasingly making its
presence felt in Asia because
telecommunications
infrastructure has improved,
and payment modes, a major
obstacle to online shopping,
are now more secure, analysts
say.
Internet penetration rates
the per cent of the population
that has internet access, is
about 17 per cent in Asia
versus 73 per cent in North
America and almost 50 per
cent in Europe.
As more people in Asian
countries such as China and
India get hooked up to the
internet, online sales are
expected to rise by an average
of 20 per cent a year. In some
Free download | flare.com.pk
a nation-wide "smart grid"
electricity network to better
track and manage power
consumption.
PowerMeter software
being tested by Google
workers receives information
from "smart" electric meters
and devices such as
appliances and then sends to
users' computers detailed
reports about how the power
is being divvied up.
One Google engineer said
he saved 3,000 dollars last
year after feedback provided
phone is seen as a potential
area of growth for network
operators in developing
countries, where millions are
without access to the banking
system. "There are 1.7 billion
people in the emerging
markets who don't have a
bank account but do have a
mobile phone, so they could
use their mobile phone to
conduct financial
transactions," explained
Michael O'Hara, marketing
director or the GSMA.

markets, such as Japan, they
are expected to increase by as
much as 40 per cent annually.
Asia's tech-savvy online
shoppers buy everything
from furniture and flowers to
airline tickets and iPods.
Online games such as
mahjong are gaining
popularity in Taiwan. In
Hong Kong and Australia,
shoppers are drawn to
overseas retail websites.
Amazon.com and eBay are
among the most popular sites
in Asia. In China, e-commerce
firm Alibaba.com operates an
online site connecting
importers and exporters of
Chinese goods.

incandescent light bulbs, a
swimming pool filter and two
old refrigerators.
There are approximately
40 million smart meters in use
worldwide. Smart meters
have computer chips and can
use the internet to relay
information about electricity
use to utility companies or
consumers as desired. The
current electric grid requires
utility company workers to
periodically read consumers'
meters to calculate overall
consumption.

Operators
to boost
'chat'
services
Barcelona: Sixty mobile
phone operators have linked
up to develop new "chat"
functionality for subscribers
that will replicate the
experience of online
programmes such as MSN
Messenger, according to an
industry initiative unveiled.
The aim is to enable users
to see which of the contacts in
their address book are
available and then allow them
to start instant messaging with
a system that would also
transfer photos and video.
Michael O'Hara, marketing
director of the GSM
Association, the industry body
behind the initiative, said the
idea was to enable "enhanced
messaging from the contacts
list on your phone."
"It allows you to do instant
messaging, to see the presence
information of your friends
and to share multimedia
during a chat session."
Users would be able to
write a message about
themselves - their "presence" -
which would appear in the
address book of others. This
functionality will be familiar to
users of hit social networking
site Facebook.
"We have 60 companies
participating in the initiative,
we expect to see initial
commercial deployments in
the second half of 2009," said
O'Hara, who added that they
were working on connecting
the system with Facebook and
micro-blogging site Twitter.

Free download | flare.com.pk
Watching TV risk health
Although still there is no
concept of research specially
related to health however in
the modern world it is the hot
topic for the researchers.
Form Mobile BTS to watching
TV, every thing is being
monitor very closely. When I
was a teenager some elders
were advising the children to
be at distance from the
television but now there is no
such concern.
Psychologist Aric Sigman
has published a study in the
Qtel reaches 1.8m mobile
customers
Doha: As a new era of
competition dawned in
Qatar’s telecommunication
sector, leading company Qtel
announced that it had
achieved a record high of
more than 1.8 million mobile
customers in Qatar.
This rapid accumulation
of new customers - up from
1.5 million announced in
November 2008 - was
achieved in spite of the global
economic downturn,
reflecting both the underlying
strength of Qatar’s economy
and Qtel’s ongoing success in
China Mobile hit by factory closures,
migration: CEO
Barcelona: The head of
China Mobile, China's biggest
mobile phone operator, said
that factory closures and the
return of rural workers to
their villages had hit the
company's revenues.
"China has felt the impact
of the financial crisis," chief
executive Wang Jianzhou told
reporters on the sidelines of
industry event Mobile World
Congress.
"Because of the reduction
science journal Biologist that
warns that children who
watch television too much
can suffer more harm than
previously thought. It found
that the popular activity
inhibits production of the
hormone melatonin, which
affects the immune system,
sleep cycle and
commencement of puberty.
Sigman suggests it is this
lower level of melatonin that
causes girls to reach puberty
much earlier and increase in
developing new products
and services that exceed its
customers’ expectations.
Executives attribute the
sharp rise in customer
numbers in 2008 to the
successful re-launch of two of
Qtel’s most popular products:
the HALA Pay-As-You-Talk
service, which saw record
numbers of new customers
apply for prepaid accounts,
and the all-new “Shahry”
post paid mobile phone
service, which brought new
levels of choice and flexibility
to Qatar.

in exports we had a decline in
international calls which
reduced our revenue. Because
of the closing down of some
average weight than in the
past.
Other effects of watching
television that Sigman found
include possible cause of
autism, possible cause of
permanent eyesight damage,
possible factor in obesity, and
risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease. Infants
and toddlers suffer from
irregular sleep patterns and
therefore higher risk of
developing type-II diabetes.
In the light of the above
report, it is the need of the
hour to work closely with the
health experts to promote the
public awareness regarding
the safe usage and watching
of TV. Another thing which is
being observed in our
country is the excessive use
and long sitting in front of
computer monitor. This habit
is also very dangerous for us
all. Especially the children are
the soft target of the rays
emitting from these friendly
looking screens.

Acer moves into mobile phones
Barcelona: Taiwan-based
computer manufacturer Acer
announced a foray into the
mobile phone market,
unveiling a range of high-end
handsets at an industry event
in Barcelona.
The group, best known for
its laptops, plans to put four
handsets on sale worldwide in
March or April with the initial
range ultimately set to
number 10, marketing
manager Sylvia Pan told AFP
at Mobile World Congress.
The touch-screen phones,
demonstrated mostly in black
with a design that resembles
the top-selling Apple iPhone,
factories, many workers have
gone back to rural areas
which reduced the usage of
mobile communications," he
added.
The global financial
crisis has led to major
factory closures in
China where export-
driven industries have
seen demand collapse
for their products from
overseas. This has led
many unemployed
Synopsis
3G TV on iPhone
Europe : France 24 is the Network) of a high quality
first television channel in the and via whatever network is
world which is accessible live available: Edge, 3G or WiFi.
and on the 3G network on The Mobiclip platform for
iPhone. The application France 24 is personalised with
"FRANCE 24 LIVE", which the colours of the channel. It
offers three live
television channels in
French, English and
Arabic.
The latest news
and several
magazine
programmes are also
available via the
can be found on the Mobiclip application, by streaming or
distribution platform, is by download.
available free of charge from Mobiclip technology
App Store. It allows users to Mobiclip is a video
display all the programmes distribution platform, live or
from the France 24 channel in on demand, via the mobile
live streaming. phones Symbian, Windows
Mobiclip offers a unique Mobile and iPhone. It is
experience on iPhone marketed as an own-brand
allowing access to flux TV product and delivered
from the "chaine "turnkey" to television
d'information internationale" channels and to the
(French International News programme editors.

will connect to the internet via market for "smart phones" and
a wifi connection and high- the arrival of traditional
speed mobile network. laptop computer makers in
this segment.
Sales of
mobile
handsets are
set to fall this
year for the
first time
according to
market
research
group
Gartner, but
The move illustrates two demand for high-end phones
trends in the mobile phone is set to increase. The first Acer
industry: the growing models will be called DX900,
attractiveness of the high-end X960, M900 and F900.

First Wi-Fi
video
workers from rural areas to
return from the cities where
conference
they were working to their
families back home.
phone
But Wang reassured that South Korea : Unidata
the company was still unveiled the world's first
growing strongly despite the Wi-Fi video conference
financial crisis, pointing to phone 'SQ-3000' during
millions of new customers CeBIT 2009. Suitable for
added in 2008 that have taken conference call between
total subscriber numbers to branches at home and
460 million. "Even in difficult abroad, it offers up to 3
times, people need to use their hours of video calling and 6
mobile phones," he said.
hours of voice calling time.
99
 Synopsis Free download | flare.com.pk

Nokia 8208 for selected ST-Ericsson: Born wireless

CDMA markets
Europe : Nokia
announced an exciting new
mobile device for its select
CDMA markets outside the
US. The 3G speed, music
capability and elegant, dual-
slide function of this device
brings consumers high-
speed, high tech combined
with good looks. With its
uncomplicated functionality,
the new Nokia 8208 gives
consumers a range of
features, while turning heads
with its design.
The sophisticated Nokia
8208 features a smooth, dual-
slide form factor, packs a
dose of entertainment with its
MP3 music player and 3
mega pixel camera. The
Nokia 8208 provides easy
access to tunes through the
phone’s dedicated music
buttons, where music can be
played for up to 20
continuous hours. Moments
in life are captured in crisp,
clear photos with the 3.0
mega pixel camera.
For easy music storage, a
16GB external memory card
slot holds up to
approximately 4,000 songs in
AAC+ and MP3 digital music
formats. When reaching for
contacts, use the Speaker-
Independent Name Dialing
mode for hands free dialling,
or assign photos to favourite
contacts to quickly see who is
calling, or sending multi-
media messages. With the
super fast 3G connection no
more waiting around to get to
the things you most like to
use. The Nokia 8208 is
expected to launch in select
CDMA markets, in the first
quarter of 2009.

semiconductor leader
Geneva: The 50/50 joint
venture that united the wireless
semiconductor division of
TMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM)
and the mobile platform
division of Ericsson
(NASDAQ:ERIC) will move
forward as ST-Ericsson. This
announcement follows the
recent closing of the agreement
announced in August 2008,
between the parent companies,
to merge Ericsson Mobile
Platforms and ST-NXP
Wireless. ST-Ericsson takes
centre-stage as a powerful new
driving force in the wireless
semiconductor industry; a key
supplier to four of the top five
handset manufacturers with
combined pro-forma revenues
of about US$ 3.6 billion in 2008,
and a solid cash position of US$
400millon.
ST-Ericsson is unique in its
ability to deliver state-of-the-art
mobile multimedia,
connectivity and platform
solutions including reference
designs for GSM, EDGE,
WCDMA, HSPA, as well as
TD-SCDMA and LTE.
Supporting all major operating
systems, company’s
multimedia and application
processors will power next
generation devices. Its
industry-leading connectivity
and broadcast solutions span
Bluetooth, FM, GPS, WLAN,
Near Field Communications
and USB to provide the richest
wireless experience.
ST-Ericsson’s world-class
solutions cover all market
segments, from entry level to
smartphone, and can be
delivered as completely
integrated solutions, as well as
individual components. ST-
Ericsson has long-standing
relationships with all major
handset manufacturers and is a
leading supplier to Nokia,
Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG
and Sharp, as well
as to other exciting
industry leaders.
In addition to its
name, ST-Ericsson
also disclosed its
logo and brand,
which capitalises on
its strong roots,
while retaining the
rich wireless heritage of both
parent companies. At the same
time, the new visual expression
of the brand differentiates the
new company and emphasises
the independent identity of this
new driving force in the
wireless semiconductor
industry. The result is a vibrant
new wireless brand built on a
solid industry foundation.

Huawei unveils latest innovations Ericsson, Zain power

Huawei Technologies, a
leader in providing next
generation
telecommunications network
solutions for operators
around the world, has
unveiled new products from
its IPTime (IP Transport
Infrastructure for Multi-Play
Evolution) solution portfolio
at the GSMA Mobile World
Congress 2009. The IPTime
solution removes bandwidth
bottlenecks in mobile
broadband services and
allows operators to
implement end-to-end (E2E)
IP mobile transport more
effectively.
Huawei introduced three
new product series - the
RTN900/600 IP microwave
series, the CX600 metro
services platform and the
PTN900 packet transport
networks series - to further
strengthen its E2E IP mobile
transport offerings.
The launch of the
RTN900/600 product series
makes Huawei the first in
the industry to provide both
hybrid and packet IP
100 microwave solutions. The
new product series will help
facilitate the smooth
migration of IP microwave
from 2G to 3G, HSPA and
long term evolution (LTE)
while protecting network
investments.
Huawei’s CX600 product
series is the industry's first
metro services platform to
comprehensively support
fixed-mobile convergence
(FMC). Its all inclusive clock
schemes and
interoperability, certified by
the European Advanced
Networking Test Centre
mean that the CX600 can
support mobile backhaul in
any mode and scenario.
The PTN900 packet
transport network series
completes Huawei’s Millennium Village
showcase of its latest IPTime
As part of the Millennium
products. Designed based on
Villages project, Ericsson and
Huawei’s “Any Media”
pan-African operator Zain
concept, the series allows
have built a green-powered
fast access to base transceiver
site in a remote village in
north eastern Kenya. With the
reliable and affordable
mobile communication the
site provides, the villagers of
Dertu can make calls, access
health services and education
and improve their economic
future.
Using a combination of
wind and solar power
addresses the two key
deterrents to building
telecommunication
stations via existing
infrastructure in remote
transmission resource, such
areas: operating costs and
as optical fibres, microwave
power supply reliability.
and cooper cables. Key
Since then, rather than
features of the PTN900
making the 100km journey by
include its small size, ease of
dirt road to the larger city of
deployment, and easy
Garissa, many people from
installation of various plug-
nearby communities go to
and-play cards. The PTN900
Dertu to make calls, access
also enables flexible
improved health services and
connection to mobile base
take advantage of new
stations and lowers
businesses - making the
operating costs.

village an economic hub for
the region.
Pastoralists are also using
their mobile phones to spread
information about where to
find good pasture and water
which is often hard to come
by in the extremely arid
region.
The social impact has also
been significant, bringing
families closer to distant
relatives, providing vital local
connections for better health
care and remote education,
and a way to communicate
quickly with government
agencies to ensure timely
relief in emergency situations,
such as damage to the village
bore, the only water supply.
The more than 3000 phone
minutes logged daily have
also created a market for
items such as SIM cards,
second-hand phones, scratch
cards, charging and
accessories, while local
business people can slash
transport costs through
mobile ordering and
invoicing.