Jang Website hacked... Go see for yourself...
www.jang.com.pk/
Chief of iPhone Hardware Design is Out of Apple Following the iPhone 4 Antennagate
Big news! According to The New York Times, the Senior Vice President of iPhone hardware engineering division at Apple has left the company in the wake of the so called iPhone 4Antennagate from which the company is still fighting to recover from. While there is no word from Apple on whether Mark Papermaster was forced out, or he left on his own terms. But according to John Gruber, he must have been forced out as he was missing from the last month’s special iPhone 4 press conference.
From what I’ve heard, it’s pretty clear he was canned. Papermaster was a conspicuous absence at the Antennagate press conference.
Mark Papermaster was the lead executive in charge of hardware for iPhone at Apple. He joined the company in April 2008. His position has now been taken over by Bob Mansfield, the Senior Vice President of Macintosh hardware engineering.
Dropped Your iPhone in Water? Well there is a Fix for that ! [Video]
Just came across this video and thought I should share it with you all. It is for one of those awful moments when you drop your iPhone or any other expensive portable consumer electronics item in water and you are then clueless on how to fix it. Since warranties don’t cover water damage, this procedure posted by iFixYouri can come to your rescue big time!
The DIY (Do It Yourself) procedure as explained on the site:
It is imperative to remove the iPhone out of the water ASAP. Once the iPhone is out of the water, you want to make sure it is powered off.
If you get a white pinwheel on the screen and it won’t turn of, you hold down the power button and home button until it turns off. In the video we failed to record it powering back on after we powered it off. We simply repeated the ‘power off process’ and moved on to the next important step; remove the SIM card.
Once the SIM card is removed you want to put the iPhone in an uncooked bag of rice. Tighten the bag so all extra air is gone and seal it.
Wait 48 to 76 hours after the water exposure and then try it out. If you find at that time it is not functioning properly as a result of the iPhone water damage put back in the rice and mail to us.
And here is the video which shows the above instructions in detail:
How to Fix T-Mobile US MMS Problem on iPhone 4 Running iOS 4.0.1 / 4.0
If you recently unlocked your iPhone 4 and tried to run it on a T-Mobile US SIM, you must have noticed that MMS doesn’t work anymore. Well good news is that there is now a fix available in Cydia which will fix this problem once and for all.
Simply follow the instructions posted below to fix MMS issue on unlocked iPhones on T-Mobile US running on iOS 4.0.1 / 4.0.
NOTE: You will need to have a jailbroken iPhone to get it to work. Follow the step by step guide posted here to jailbreak your iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G on iOS 4.0.1. Instructions for unlocking iPhone 4 can be found here, and for iPhone 3GS and 3G can be found here.
Step 1: Start “Cydia” on your iPhone. Touch on “Manage” tab on the bottom, and then on “Sources” as seen in the screenshot below:
Step 2: Now touch on “Edit” and then on “Add”. You will be prompted to enter a url source as seen in the screenshot below. Type “http://cydia.pushfix.info” and touch on“Add Source” to add this repo if you haven’t already.
Cydia will now automatically update your sources by following a series of automated steps.
Step 3: After installation is completed. Search for “T-Mobile US MMS Fix for iOS4” in Cydia and install this application.
Step 4: Now navigate to Settings –> General –> Network –> Cellular Data Network and verify that you have the following settings for MMS:
APN: wap.voicestream.com
MMSC: http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc
MMS Proxy: 216.155.165.50:8080
MMS Max Message Size: 1048576
MMS UA Prof URL: http://www.apple.com/mms/uaprof.rdf
Step 5: Now simply restart your iPhone and voila! MMS should now be working on yourjailbroken and unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile US.
Awais Malik Resigns from ZONG Joining MTN Group
Awais Malik, Director Marketing Segments, Strategy, Products & International Business, ZONG.
Awais Malik, Director Marketing Segments, Strategy, Products & International Business, ZONG has resigned from his post and is joining one of the contributory of the MTN Group as Head of Consumer Business. MTN Group is a South Africa-based multinational mobile telecommunications company, operating in many African and Middle Eastern countries.
Awais Malik is an experienced professional with over ten years of experience in the telecommunications industry in Pakistan. He possesses special knowledge in products, strategy development, execution and management.
As Director Marketing Segments, Strategy, Products & International Business at ZONG he was responsible for creating and managing ZONG’s overall marketing and pricing strategy in order to increase customer acquisition / retention and revenue.
An MBA in Marketing from the University of Management & Technology, Lahore, Awais Malik joined ZONG in January 2008 as Head of Marketing Segments, VAS & International Business. Prior to joining ZONG he was Head of VAS & Product Development (Marketing) at Mobilink GSM Pakistan where he served for nearly seven years with distinction.
source: Telecom Recorder
Mobile Internet Users Increasing Tremendously in Pakistan
In the recent years, due to pretty low rates of cellular services, there is an increase in the number of subscribers with an accelerated pace. Furthermore, the subscribers adopting internet services are showing incredible growth of 161 percent by June-end.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reported, the number of internet subscription on network of different cellular operators have reached 14.4 million by the end of closing financial year 2009-10. The number of internet subscribers on cellular operators’ network was recorded 4.4 million by the end of 2008-09.
Telenor has grabbed the biggest share in terms of number of mobile internet users; however, penetration-wise Zong is leading the market with its lowest cost package of internet services.
Industry analysts said the internet subscription numbers might be over-stated by the authority because the internet users are not permanent in the cellular sector on specific operator’s network. They were of the view that cellular operators’ revenue has seen a healthy increase from the usage of mobile internet on GSM technology.
The quality of handset also facilitates subscribers to use internet, an internet services are used mostly on expensive handset of branded companies. The growth of mobile internet subscribers has outpaced the growth of internet subscribers utilizing broadband and dial-up connections in the outgoing fiscal year.
As per estimated figures, the number of internet users had reached 19.5 million by 2009-10 as compared, with the number of users reported less than 19 million in the country by the end of corresponding previous year.
However, the number of internet connections has reached nearly 10 million in the country including broadband and dial-up. The broadband growth witnessed 150 percent in just two years, which has never been experienced before.
The number of broadband users has grown from 45,000 in 2007 to 900,000 this year. Due to these results, Pakistan has been placed 6th in terms of quarterly growth and 10th in terms of annual growth in the global broadband market by a leading web source on broadband statistics.
Unveils White Paper of Rs 50 Billion Scam Khosa Turns Against his Own Government
n what he called a “white paper” apparently against his own government and the ministry that he was heading till recently, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on IT Sardar Latif Khosa has revealed that at least Rs50 billion are annually lost by the state and telecom companies due to the unchecked grey tariff, i.e. illegal network of international calls.
Forwarded to the Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on IT, Khosa, who was recently deprived of being the Minister in charge of the IT Ministry, sought from the NA body to intervene to improve the prevailing situation in the affairs of IT and Telecom Division and its various entities.
Khosa signed the letter addressed to the Chairman NA body as Adviser to the PM on IT, but the letterhead he used clearly introduces him as a “federal minister”.
Khosa accused the PTA and the IT ministry to have been involved in this massive corruption. Khosa wrote: “A conservative estimate (of the loss due to grey traffic) is around 50 billion rupees per annum, which is not happening without involvement of officials of MOIT (Ministry of IT) and PTA.”
Khosa’s white paper says that countries like India and Bangladesh have recently taken strict measures against grey traffickers and have imposed fine of millions of dollars on those companies found involved in facilitating grey traffic. In-spite of the fact that strict/penalizing measures were taken in our neighbourhood, our department like PTA and MOIT never took any interest and grey traffickers boomed. Khosa informed the NA body that he has proposed to the ECC a strategy to curb the menace.
Regarding what he termed financial mismanagement of USF (Universal Service Fund) and information and communication technologies research and development (ICT R&D) Funds, Khosa said in his white paper that amounts of USF and ICT R&D funds should have been invested in the Risk Free Government Securities only, whereas, they have been investing in banks of the choice at commercial rates. “Advisor to the PM has found it as deviation of grave nature and so far, no further investments have been allowed, as minister in charge is scrutinizing the fiasco. It is pertinent to also mention that the Member Telecom has kept his brother-in-law Muhammad Idrees under him to manage the funds of USF & ICT R&D.”
Khosa added, “There were billions of outstanding contributions with operators as liability according to Telecom deregulation Act. I have instructed PTA and Ministry of IT to receive all pending payments from operators at the earliest so that this money can be utilized for the intended benefits.”
Khosa also charged the PTA with illegally placing Rs55 billion of IT Ministry in Federal Consolidated Fund, for which PTA was neither custodian nor it was PTA’s money. “This money shall be utilized for USF and ICT R&D Fund objectives. I directed Chairman PTA to get this money back to Ministry of IT and utilize it for the meant purposes.”
Khosa gave his detailed view of what he called the “illegal activities, prevailing in the Ministry of IT from last regime and were continuing in this regime with the help and support of bureaucracy. “I as Minister-in-Charge of IT took serious actions against malicious malfunctioning in different departments related with Ministry in best interest of Government and Citizens of Pakistan,” wrote Khosa, who, however, did not mention as to why then he was recently removed by the prime minister as minister-in-charge of the IT ministry.
Regarding the affairs of USF, he said that its board members have conflict of interest as major chunk of subsidized projects amounting to Rs10 billion were awarded to those companies who had their representation on the board of the USF Company. He said that one of the leading telecom company of Pakistan got projects over Rs7.7 billion without even contributing a single penny to the Fund.
PTCL Vfone POSTPAID
PTCL has introduced “Vfone POSTPAID” at affordable line rent in three different packages. Customers of Vfone POSTPAID can also make calls while using the internet. Wireless Local Loop (WLL) set price is Rs. 3600.
Terms and Conditions:
- Charging will be done as per prescribed rates in each package, after expiry of free facility.
- Outgoing facility will be blocked on expiry of 99.99% of security.
- Customer can pay additional security to avoid blockage of outgoing facility i.e. to enhance his credit limit.
Vfone POSTPAID Packages are:
- V-I
- V-II
- V-III
V-I | |
| Free Offer | NIL |
| Security (Refundable) | Rs. 500/- |
| Monthly Line Rent | Rs. 174/month |
| Vfone to Landline | Rs. 1.00/min |
| Vfone to Vfone | Rs. 1.00/min |
| Vfone to Mobile/other LLO | Rs. 2.50/min |
| International | As per defined zones |
| SMS | Rs.0.25 |
| Internet | Rs.2/20mins |
V-II | |
| Free Offer | 1. Vfone-Vfone – Unlimited free 2. Vfone-PSTN – 100 free min Free internet – 15 hrs |
| Security (Refundable) | Rs. 1000/- |
| Monthly Line Rent | Rs. 299/month |
| Vfone to Landline | Rs. 1.00/min |
| Vfone to Vfone | Unlimited Free |
| Vfone to Mobile/other LLO | Rs. 2.00/min |
| International | As per defined zones |
| SMS | Rs.0.25 |
| Internet | Rs.2/20mins |
V-III | |
| Free Offer | 1. Vfone-Vfone – Unlimited free 2. Vfone-PSTN – Unlimited free 3. Free internet – 25 hrs 4. SMS to all networks – Unlimited free |
| Security (Refundable) | Rs. 1000/- |
| Monthly Line Rent | Rs. 599/month |
| Vfone to Landline | Unlimited Free |
| Vfone to Vfone | Unlimited Free |
| Vfone to Mobile/other LLO | Rs. 2.00/min |
| International | As per defined zones |
| Internet | Rs.2/20mins |
| SMS to All Networks | Unlimited Free |
Illegal Telecom Traffic Causing Loss of 25 Million Dollars in Pakistan
Pakistan is losing 25 million dollars of valuable foreign exchange per month due to grey telecom traffic. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has given this shocking news to Economic Co-ordination Committee in the meeting on July 29, 2010.
“After making necessary amendments in the Telecom Deregulation Policy, illegal telecom traffic can be controlled whereas inflow of foreign exchange could be doubled from its present level of US $25 million to US $50 million per month,” ECC was informed.
PTA said it was jamming around 670 cases per day involved in this illegal business. ECC was informed that since grey traffic had much lower rates, therefore, government in the process sustained significant financial losses. It was further noted that with the existing arrangements, formal market was unable to compete grey market encircling telecom traffic.
According to the provisions of Telecom Deregulation Policy 2003, Long Distance International (LDI) licenses are permitted to retain a fixed share of termination charges paid by international carriers while the remaining premium is to be used for infrastructure development to increase the tele-density.
In the existing policy regime, this premium for the calls terminating on, Local Loop Operations (LLOs) is passed on to LLOs, while the Access Promotion Contribution (APC) on cellular termination is collected and provided to Universal Services Fund (USF), the agency responsible for expanding the infrastructure and tele-density in the country.
ECC was further informed that pursuant to deregulation policy and Access Promotion (AP) Rules and Regulations, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) monitors and approves the International Telephone Service Agreements (ITSA), recommended by consortium of LDI operators.
However, telecom industry has been agitating, for quite some time, on Approved Settlement Regime (ASR) introduced by PTA. The matter was referred to Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) for resolution. A committee comprising representatives of operators, PTA and MoIT was constituted to deliberate upon the issue. ECC was also informed that based on the consensus, arrived at through the consultative process, MoIT has proposed some changes in Telecommunication Deregulation Policy to make it part of the next Telecom Policy for the sector.
source: Business Recorder
“After making necessary amendments in the Telecom Deregulation Policy, illegal telecom traffic can be controlled whereas inflow of foreign exchange could be doubled from its present level of US $25 million to US $50 million per month,” ECC was informed.
PTA said it was jamming around 670 cases per day involved in this illegal business. ECC was informed that since grey traffic had much lower rates, therefore, government in the process sustained significant financial losses. It was further noted that with the existing arrangements, formal market was unable to compete grey market encircling telecom traffic.
According to the provisions of Telecom Deregulation Policy 2003, Long Distance International (LDI) licenses are permitted to retain a fixed share of termination charges paid by international carriers while the remaining premium is to be used for infrastructure development to increase the tele-density.
In the existing policy regime, this premium for the calls terminating on, Local Loop Operations (LLOs) is passed on to LLOs, while the Access Promotion Contribution (APC) on cellular termination is collected and provided to Universal Services Fund (USF), the agency responsible for expanding the infrastructure and tele-density in the country.
ECC was further informed that pursuant to deregulation policy and Access Promotion (AP) Rules and Regulations, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) monitors and approves the International Telephone Service Agreements (ITSA), recommended by consortium of LDI operators.
However, telecom industry has been agitating, for quite some time, on Approved Settlement Regime (ASR) introduced by PTA. The matter was referred to Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) for resolution. A committee comprising representatives of operators, PTA and MoIT was constituted to deliberate upon the issue. ECC was also informed that based on the consensus, arrived at through the consultative process, MoIT has proposed some changes in Telecommunication Deregulation Policy to make it part of the next Telecom Policy for the sector.
source: Business Recorder
PTCL Landline Lucky Draw Promotion
PTCL has come up with an exciting offer “Landline Lucky Draw Promotion “for all landline customers. With this offer all landline customers can enter into a lucky draw and can win amazing prizes. Customers can enter into a lucky draw by making calls worth Rs.1000 or more per month from PTCL landline.
Exciting prizes for Lucky draw customers are 10,000 1 Mbps Broadband Connections free for 1 year, 100 PTCL branded Cordless Phones and 50 Television Set.
Terms and conditions:
Lucky draw will be conducted for all customers whose PSTN usage is Rs. 1,000 or more either in August 2010 or in September 2010.
Usage includes: Local, Nationwide, Fixed to mobile, International calls and package charges only.
This offer is valid for 01 Private Residential Customers only.
PTCL “Vfone Azadi Offer”
PTCL Vfone has announced a new “Vfone Azadi Offer” in the celebration of Independence Day for its Vfone subscribers. Subscribers of Vfone can get the free balance of Rs.100 on loading the Vfone scratch card of higher than Rs.100.This offer is valid from 29th July, 2010 till 30th August, 2010.
Terms and Conditions:
• Free balance offer will be valid for all cards of more than Rs. 100 denomination i.e. on Rs. 300, 500 and 1,000 denomination cards• Free balance can be utilized for calling on-net Vfone to Vfone, Vfone to PSTN Local and Vfone to NWD• Free balance can be utilized for Internet and SMS (on-net and off-net)• The validity of free balance will be 30 days only• Free balance offer will be applicable only for WIN subscribers & not for WIPT i.e. not for VPCO
Terms and Conditions:
• Free balance offer will be valid for all cards of more than Rs. 100 denomination i.e. on Rs. 300, 500 and 1,000 denomination cards• Free balance can be utilized for calling on-net Vfone to Vfone, Vfone to PSTN Local and Vfone to NWD• Free balance can be utilized for Internet and SMS (on-net and off-net)• The validity of free balance will be 30 days only• Free balance offer will be applicable only for WIN subscribers & not for WIPT i.e. not for VPCO
Government Making it Obligatory for Cellular Companies to Curb Grey Traffic and Channelize Forex deals via SBP
The government is allegedly making it mandatory for the cellular companies to acquire systems to hold back grey traffic and channelization of financial transaction with foreign operations through the State Bank of Pakistan. Incoming international telephony traffic generates a financial premium over the cost of transmission and terminating such traffic into Pakistan.
According to the provisions of Telecom Deregulation Policy, approved by the Cabinet in 2003, Long Distance International (LDI) licensees would be permitted to retain a fixed share of termination charge paid by international carriers while the remaining portion of premium is to be used for infrastructure development to increase the tele-density. The latter is termed as the Access Promotion Contribution (APC).
In the existing policy management this premium for the calls terminating on local loop operators (LLOs) is passed on to LLOs while the APC on cellular termination is collected and provided to Universal Services Fund (USF), the agency responsible for escalating the infra-structure of tele-density in the country. Moreover, the policy entrusted Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to work out a formula for revenue sharing, which would be reviewed and notified, at least, once every six months. Framework for APC was outlined in Access Promotion (AP) Rules and AP Regulation published by the PTA in 2005.
Pursuant to Deregulation Policy and AP Rules and Regulation, PTA monitors and approves the international telephone service agreements recommended by a consortium of LDI operators. From time to time, PTA has been reviewing the APC by issuance of determined rates. However, telecom industry has been agitating, for quite some time, on Approved Settlement Regime (ASR) introduced by PTA and they have expressed reservations on recent determinations issued by the PTA.
Sources said current regulatory regime does not provide the mechanism to effectively curb the menace of grey traffic, resulting in a huge financial loss to the exchequer. The matter was referred to the IT Ministry for resolution. A committee comprising representatives of the industry, PTA and MoIT was constituted to deliberate upon the issue. The committee held a series of consultative meetings, with all the stakeholders to finalise the revised policy for ASR.
Based on the consensus, worked out through the consultative process, MoIT proposes the following changes in the clause 4.3 of the Telecommunication Deregulation Policy and to make them the integral part of the next telecom policy for the sector as per following:
(i) at present, net incoming international traffic generates a financial premium over the cost of conveying and terminating the traffic into Pakistan.
(ii) for next five years a reasonable portion of the premium is proposed to be used to promote infrastructure expansion.
The design and implementation of APC programme will be guided by the following principles:
- APC shall be used to foster new infrastructure development to increase tele-density through local loop operators, mobile cellular operators and US
- Distribution of funds between all stakeholders shall be done in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner
- APC programme shall be under the regulatory supervision of PTA, which shall also regulate international traffic agreements
- In order to stabilize ASR and to eliminate the speculation in the market ASR distribution mechanism for various stakeholders should for the next five years
- Afair share in APC called APC-M may be allocated to mobile cellular operators
- Mobile cellular operators shall acquire the system to curb grey traffic on access level which will also facilitate quality of service monitoring and implementation of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) regime.
It is also being proposed that LLOs shall provide 200,000 broadband connections each year exclusively with APC amounts for next five years. Based on the percentage share in APC, the authority shall determine the obligatory connections of each operator. In order to secure the effective collection of APC, negotiations of bilateral accounting rates will be supervised by PTA. The principle of “one country one rate” will be implemented.
PTA would establish an international traffic clearing house for all incoming international traffic. Through this clearing house PTA would have statistics of all incoming and outgoing traffic including the satellite traffic. All licensees will be obliged to file reports on the volumes, sources and destinations of international incoming minutes, and PTA shall audit their itemised call records and billing systems with the objective of detecting and eliminating fraud.
Channelization of forex inflow of incoming traffic as well as monetary transactions with foreign operators would be through the State Bank of Pakistan; and six monthly account audit and stabilization of call rates will be ensured by the PTA, the sources continued.
A fund for the revitalization of local ICT/telecom equipment manufacturing through public private partnership and curbing the grey traffic under MoIT may be created with the differential amount from APC-M and APC-USF over the international mobile terminating traffic. Accounting separation will be strictly enforced for access promotion contribution received by the operators for tele-density enhancement and the same shall be audited by the PTA, biannually.
PTA would devise all possible mechanisms to protect the share of LDI operators including maintaining the “white list” and “black List” of international carriers whereby LDI operators would be allowed to terminate traffic only for those international carriers on the “white list”. International carriers observing the sanctity of the ASR of the country will be included in the white list. Whereas LDI would register written complaint with the Regulator (PTA) for non-compliance of the sanctity of the ASR and PTA shall black list those carriers and direct LDIs to stop bringing traffic from black listed carriers. Sources said LDI operators would be required to submit bank guarantees to all the recipient organizations so that the same can be encashed in case of default from LDI. PTA would issue comprehensive regulations to ensure sanctity of ASR and timely payment of outstanding amounts by all concerned.
IT Firms’ Registration Hit Record in Second Quarter
Pakistan Software House Association (PASHA) has enrolled 20 new Information Technology (IT) firms in the second quarter of 2010, showing a significant expansion over last year, when it enrolled the same number of companies in 12 months, Yusuf Jan, Chairman, PASHA, told The News on Wednesday.
“There has been a focus on entrepreneurship in the local IT industry for the last three years,” said Jan, adding “There’s a tremendous growth in new companies entering the business, especially in the second quarter.”
Yusuf Jan is also the Co-founder and Executive Vice President of Mixit Technologies, a company providing trading policy to Nasdaq and 250 brokerage houses. Pakistani IT companies such as Sofizar, Mindstorm, Jadu, Chopal, TPS, etc. have won accolades by preparing unique software, games, and Internet-based solutions for global companies.
There is about 400 IT firms in Pakistan that are members of PASHA, it employ around 150,000 professionals, leaving a small number of companies outside its domain. PASHA, formed some 10 years ago, estimates the size of the local IT industry at more than $2 billion per annum with yearly exports of around $1 billion.
Jehan Ara, President, PASHA, said in a presentation that the IT sector had become one of the most innovative and vibrant industries, progressing at a pace of 30 to 50 percent per annum. The local IT firms caters, in a variety of ways, to the financial, textile and telecom sectors’ needs. It also provides software and services to various government departments, while the defense sector is also a major user of IT products.
“The financial sector is leading the way (in terms of IT use) on the back of growth in the online and mobile banking services and ATM usage,” Jehan Ara added.
In order to get the up to date picture of the IT industry, PASHA and Pakistan Software Export Board are conducting a mutual project to analyze future challenges. “The last two-year experience has shown that the global challenges are there, so the study will be a bit different from the previous ones,” said Yusuf Jan.
“Unlike other parts of the world, Pakistan is unique as half of the companies here belong to the product development side and half to the IT services area,” Yusuf Jan said, adding that in many countries this ratio is lopsided.
There are more than 100 companies in the country and over 400,000 graduates are enrolled with them through various programmes and courses. Speaking on the educational and training side, Jan said that 25 percent of the graduates are highly skilled and getting a job has never been a problem for them.
“After three-year slump, enrollment in the universities, offering IT subjects, has gone up considerably this year,” said Yusuf Jan.
“Pay scale in the IT sector is the healthiest among the rest of the professions and every other firm is now looking for people.” A skilled IT graduate can easily earn a salary of Rs100,000 per month within the first four years of his career, he added.
source: The News
The Mysterious Air Crash
And it was all over the news this morning, I’ve been receiving different texts from my friends about the plane crash but I didnt know the case is very different. I woke up and turned on a news channel and I was astounded to know that a massive passenger plane has collided Margalla hills surrounded by Islamabad. I had no idea at that time about the massive holocaust of humanity in the name of Plane crash. By the after-noon it was evidently declared that nobody survived the plane crash, Thus killing all 152 people on board.
I’ve been deeply analysing the plane crash as it was for the first time that a big jet with so many passengers on board has crashed into the area where planes are not allowed to go. Beside this, so many questions are still unanswered. I’ve been thinking why the plane was directed to move towards the Blue Area side of Islamabad, as that area is usually regarded as VIP area where no plane can fly. Plus it has all important buildings of Pakistan like Supreme Court, Parliament House, Prime Minister House and the President House. This is still an unsolved mystery for me that why the plane was sent to ‘No Go Area’. Please dont forget that Naval Headquarters and PAF complex is also located in that Area.
Two third of turbulence-related accidents occurs at or above 30,000 feet. Generally, flying through turbulence of the milder nature, if prolonged, can be fairly uncomfortable to the passengers. If such turbulence were detectable by the weather radar or from weather forecast, pilots would avoid them by deviating off track. There were number of air planes which experiences air crash because of Air Turbulence but they were rare in nature.
The mystery still remains unsolved and the questions are still there to answer but initial investigations has to under-go in order to fetch out the conclusion. I’ve extreme sympathy with the families of passengers who were on board. There’s nothing that can compensate human loss but yet when there is loss, it should be investigated so that no-one else in future face something like that.
Rules for Traffic between Pakistan and AJK/GB Revised
After consultation with industry, PTA has decided to route all calls between Pakistan and AJK/GB through LDI operators of both the territories.
Now all calls originating from AJK/GB and terminating on networks in Pakistan or vice versa will go through LDI operators and then the relevant landing operator.
This way, calling party will have to pay Transit Charges to the cross-area LDI operators.
PTA has devised following three scenarios, and their cost mechanisms:
- For calls originating from AJK/GB’s LL or mobile networks and terminating on fixed networks in Pakistan, the respective AJK/GB’s LL operator or mobile operator will route the call through Pakistani LDI on far-end principle and will pay PTA’s Approved Transit Charges to respective Pakistani LDI operator in addition to respective termination charges and vice versa
- For calls originating from AJK/GB’s LL or mobile networks and terminating on mobile networks in Pakistan, the respective AJK/GB’s LL or mobile operator may route the call through Pakistani LDI on far-end principle and pay PTA’s Approved Transit charges to Pakistani LDI , in addition to respective termination charges and vice versa. However, AJK/GB and Pakistani operators may also mutually agree any other traffic routing as well as charging mechanism on non-discriminatory basis.
- For incoming international traffic, an operator having LDI license in AJK/GB is allowed to bring international traffic for AJK/GB territory only (by using numbering series of AJK/GB) and not for Pakistan, same is applicable for operators having LDI license in Pakistan in similar manners. However, an LDI operator having license for both Pakistan and AJK/GB can bring traffic to Pakistan as well as AJK/GB, but through separate IPs/ ISPCs/NSPCs.
ZONG launches SMS Delivery Report at Rs10 per month
ZONG has launched SMS Delivery Report today. Keeping in line with its history of providing distinctive services, ZONG has launched the SMS Delivery Report at a very negligible price and will ensure that the subscriber always receives the report for their SMS.
It’s always important to know whether your SMS has been delivered to the recipient or not. Previously, SMS delivery was given by most operators free of cost but due to the traffic on the messaging system owing to these delivery reports, most of the times the operators would shut down the delivery report service. This would leave subscribers in the dark having no option of knowing whether it is a system glitch or their SMS has not been delivered. Currently operators are revisiting their SMS delivery report situation and developing a charged subscription service for this purpose.
This service will add to the list of value added services being provided to its customers. With this service, customers will get information in real time as soon as the SMS is delivered to the recipient and will be assured of the delivery of their SMS on the destination.
Subscription:
For subscription, subscriber can send “SUB” to 533 for activation of this service
Charges:
The charges for Delivery Report Service are Rs 10+t per month.
Express Tribune Violates Google TOS
Newly launched newspaper, Express Tribune, is apparently violating Google Terms of Services for using Google Custom Search Engine on its website.
Express Tribune uses Google Custom Search service to facilitate its readers with best possible search results; however, webmaster has apparently removed the Google branding from search box, which is not allowed by the Google TOS.
One may opine that Express Tribune is using “Google Site Search”, a paid solution for businesses that allows removal of Google branding, however, ads displayed in Search results and “Google Custom Search” logo in results confirms that website is using the free version.
A query sent to Express Tribune’s webmaster regarding this is still awaiting response.
This violation, if reported, can cost heavy to Express Tribune, as Google can ban this website forever by not displaying it in Google Search, a nightmare for any online business.
Mobilink Super Engineer Competition Concludes
Mobilink held a prize distribution ceremony at Mobilink Office Islamabad, to conclude the “Mobilink Super Engineer Competition”. The title was won by students from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology.
Securing 1st position with their project, “Traffic Analysis and measurement system in IPMPLS Environment” the 5-member team from GIKI was thrilled. The team representing NUST University took the 2nd position, with their project, “Inter-city video conferencing system” while the 3rd position was taken by the team from FAST University with their project, “Automation of physical distribution of E 1s”.
An inter-university contest involving teams of students from the leading engineering universities of Pakistan, Mobilink Super Engineer Competition provides the students the chance to work on a real life project with technical experts from Mobilink’s team. The projects were evaluated by a senior Mobilink jury having representation from different Technical departments against a pre- defined criterion of innovation and creativity, project presentation, meeting the timelines and meeting project objectives.
Rashid Khan, President & CEO Mobilink, awarded the teams with shields and certificates in the presentation ceremony held at the Mobilink head office. He appreciated the efforts of the participating teams and assured the winning team of opportunity of employment assessment within the Technical division at Mobilink.
Khan shared, “Mobilink believes in nurturing the intelligence of progressive youth and innovators of our nation. We recognize this as a very hands-on field and this is why the Super Engineer Competition was packaged as a project based drive. We were confident that with adequate support, our youth can indigenously develop modern technologies and truly innovative systems. The outcome of the participating teams has confirmed that.”
Thanking Mobilink’s Technical team for their support, Hafiz Zeeshan from the winning GIKI team shared, “This was a true test of what we had learned. Having the chance to work with experts in the field and being recognized for it has given us a renewed confidence in our ability. We will never forget this experience and opportunity.”
In addition to mentor programs, Mobilink also provides grants at Bachelor and Masters level for students of LUMS and GIKI. Mobilink also launched an innovative SMS Literacy project for rural women in partnership with UNESCO to improve the reading and writing skills of semi-literate women using cellular technology.
PTA and Nust Sign MoU
Islamabad: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and National University of Science and Technology (NUST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance mutual cooperation for research in the relevant field and to promote mutually beneficial relations between the two organisations. Chairman PTA Dr. Mohammad Yaseen and Rector NUST Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asghar signed the MoU in a ceremony held at NUST Headquarters Islamabad today. This MoU would be valid for (five) 5 years and would be renewed after completion of the five year period.
It is anticipated that this collaboration would allow the academia to share its research in the field of telecom, for its appropriate utilization by the regulator and other organizations. Main objectives of this collaboration are to support research activities and to equip the future leadership with theoretical training as well as practical experience in policy and regulatory issues of telecom sector.
On this occasion, Chairman PTA Dr.Mohammed Yaseen said that PTA would provide telecom information and expertise to NUST, reciprocally NUST would encourage its students to undertake research in different areas of telecom sector. He said that under the MoU, PTA would help NUST in identification of research areas. Similarly NUST would cooperate with PTA on different issues related to trade, business and economy. It may be pertinent to mention here that PTA has always been working towards encouraging research activities in telecom sector. PTA being an academia friendly organization has taken number of initiatives to establish strong linkages between the educational institutions and PTA for the promotion of telecom research.
The research on forthcoming regulatory issues and challenges and transfer of new technologies in local sector is likely to assist the regulator and the policy makers. To this end PTA has taken significant steps that have received an exhilarating response from all the stakeholders. These initiatives include SMS-based Information System for educational institutions, PTA Gold Medal Scheme, Essay Competition on Telecom Day and cash prizes for best research project competition. PTA has awarded the gold medals to the winning students for academic year 2008 and 2009.
EasyPaisa Gets an Urdu Website
Easypaisa, the mobile banking solution from Telenor and Tameer bank has launched Urdu version of its website, with almost similar details as they are available in English version.
It looks that Urdu version is machine translation (or what they call meaning to meaning translation) of Easypaisa’s English version; check following paragraph (available here) and its translations in quite literary manner (available here):
Telenor Pakistan has always been a pioneer in innovative services. For easypaisa, Telenor Pakistan has partnered with Tameer Micro Finance Bank to introduce branchless banking for the first time in Pakistan. The innovative product umbrella of easypaisa will give you complete convenience and empowerment that you have always wanted in life.
Translation:
ٹیلی نار پاکستان ہمیشہ سے اختراعی سروسز کا بانی رہا ہے۔ ایزی پیسہ کے لئے ٹیلی نار پاکستان نے تعمیر مائیکروفنانس بینک کے ساتھ شراکت دار کی ہے تا کہ پاکستان میں پہلی بار برانچ لیس بینکنگ کو متعارف کرائے۔ایزی پسیہ کی چھتری کی اختراع پروڈکٹ آپ کو مکمل سکون و اختیار دے گی جو آپ اپنی زندگی میں چاہتے ہیں۔
Even Google translated this paragraph better with easy-to-understand language.
Nevertheless, a good step, with lots of chances for betterment; particularly if payment sending methods are explained in easy to understand language with more details than what they are available in English.
he Iphone 4 Antenna, Steve Jobs, The War, The Fight
A very curious and hilarious topic going around these days is between IPhone 4 and Steve Jobs. Apple having a good market share has messed up big time, which is the Antenna issue in iPhone 4 and its competitors are seriously behind it.
Personally, a friend of mine has even shared his first-hand views with iPhone 4 and yes this is a real existing problem the users are facing with this device but to be very honest, the whole scenario has been just blown out of proportion.
I have personally observed Steve Jobs and have concluded that he is a person, who cannot accept a NO or a drawback and precisely the reason why we keep hearing so much about iPhone 4 issues.
Let me go with the issues in step by step and create this topic more interesting for you.
After the launch, complains were filled against yellow spots or white spots on the display, the strong screen it claimed failed too and Signal Reception, this was just the beginning. People these days are tech oriented too therefore the reception problem was discovered very soon.
As soon as you hold your device with your left hand so that your hand touches the corners, the reception bars are all the way down.
Here we have the first statement from Steve Jobs
“Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.”
Steve Jobs attitude of don’t hold it that way was not acceptable to the public because obviously you don’t choose how to hold a phone, you just hold it and the positions are real time. Further pretending it’s not a big issue or a design flaw aroused many of the other issues.
Later Apple gathered a press conference dedicated on the iPhone 4 reception issues and played a puzzle in it. At a point Steve Jobs was seen quoting that every phone has a weak point and even further claimed everybody makes mistakes but also said Apple is quick to fix their mistakes and thus have loyal users. Apple wants its users to be happy and as people ran for their free cases, courtesy of Apple with the statement of “not because they have messed up, but only because they love their users”.
Apple was still not satisfied and even took a big risk of creating real time enemies for itself by starting to point out and accusing RIM’s Blackberry Bold 9700, HTC Driod Erics, Samsung Omnia II & Motorola’s; mentioned in the conference. Apple claimed that they also face the same antenna problems and demonstrated with the videos of each phone and the ways of holdings at times of lack in reception even with images.
Obviously the companies Apple accused so conveniently would have stayed back…!
The Co-CEOs of RIM (Blackberry) statement
Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation.
RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity.
Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”
- Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie
HTC’s statement
That only 0.016 percent of all HTC users have complained about the Droid Eris and only a few of them have experienced with the device’s antenna and signal.
Samsung’s statement
The antenna is located at the bottom of the Omnia 2 phone, while iPhone’s antenna is on the lower left side of the device. Our design keeps the distance between a hand and an antenna,”
Shin Young-joo said.”We have fully conducted field tests before the rollout of smart phones. Reception problems have not happened so far, and there is no room for such problems to happen in the future,” he added.
Motorola statement
Sanjay Jha, the company’s co-CEO, responded that “consumers don’t like being told how to hold the phone … It is disingenuous to suggest that all phones perform equally”. He also added that unlike Apple, Motorola avoids placing the antennas on the outside of their phones since that could cause reception issues.
Nokia’s statement
Nokia was out of the picture but still it stated a very offensive statement which I guess Apple should be ready for as Steve Jobs chose to point out fingers.
Antenna design is a complex subject and has been a core competence at Nokia for decades, across hundreds of phone models. Nokia was the pioneer in internal antennas; the Nokia 8810, launched in 1998, was the first commercial phone with this feature.
Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying human behavior, including how people hold their phones for calls, music playing, web browsing and so on. As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.
In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That’s why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design.
As I mentioned previously Apple does not take NO for an answer and further was not able to show a faulty Nokia handset in the conference explored more and more and turned to figure out one of the Nokia’s cell phone flaw with the demonstration via video and images in Nokia N97 Mini.
The war has started as seen above and we are pretty much sure this will not end up good lately as Apple has officially launched a page whereby Pointing out Names of Brands, to even me this came as a shocker but yes this is official now Click Here.
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