Ufone Offers 2 Numbers in 1 SIM

Ufone is now offering this unique service, which allows its customers to operate two Ufone numbers on one SIM. This feature can be handy for those having two numbers at a time, maybe one for personal use and another for business usage.
With this service you will get a virtual number on your original number. Meaning two numbers on one SIM. With Double Number you can switch off your business number while keeping your other number open for family and friends or simply operate two businesses with one SIM.
How to use this service:
Subscribing to this service is simple. There are multiple ways to subscribe to this service:
Send SUB to 660
Dial *66# from your Ufone number
Once you subscribe to the service the system will randomly select an idle number from Double Number inventory. An SMS will be sent to your number:

“Your Double Number is 033XXXXXXXX. Charges Rs.30 + Tax / Month. Please dial 66 followed by any number and make calls from your Double Number.”

Example: if your assigned Double Number is 03335100011 and you want to make a call to 03331234567 you will dial 6603331234567. The receiver will receive the number from 03335100011.
Similarly to send an SMS to 03331234567 you will write the SMS and send it with the prefix “66” i.e.
Type message: “How are you?” and send it to 6603331234567.
The receiver will receive the SMS from 03335100011.
Both users can talk to each other whereas billing will be done to primary number on per minute basis.
If 03331234567 want to make call or SMS to 03335100011, user will simply dial 03335100011 and the call/SMS will be routed to 03335100012 (the primary number).
Additional features of the service are as follows which can be accessed through IVR 660:

• Users can switch off/on their Double Number any time or for specific time period.
• Bar a Caller – You will not receive calls from selected number on your Double Number.
• Bar All Callers – All incoming calls on Double Number will be blocked
• Unblock All Callers – All incoming calls on Double Number will be allowed
• Unblock a Caller – You will start receiving calls from number that you blocked.

Charges:

• Subscription Charges: Rs.30+Tax/Mon (Re.1+Tax/Day from next month)
• Call Charges (On-Net/ Off-Net): Rs. 1.30+Tax per Minute
• SMS Charges (On-Net/ Off-Net): Rs.0.50+tax/SMS
• 660 IVR Charges: Re. 1+Tax/Minute

Terms and Conditions:

• Service will be available for both pre-paid and post-pay users.
• Users can get a Double number through an SMS/IVR & USSD.
• Only one Double number can be mapped against one primary number.
• Double Number will be provided to Ufone customers from an inventory, which is specifically reserved for this service.
• Billing will be done on Primary number only. Service is not designed for Incoming/Outgoing international roamers.
• International calls & SMS from double number will not be allowed.
• Double Number will be assigned against the primary number. Assigned MSISDNs will not be available for anyone else.
• Since Double number will be attached with active primary number hence customer’s record will also be available in Cares. Customer’s NIC or Passport Number is not required for the activation. Customer does not need to visit any Ufone service centre or franchise to obtain the DN.
• Balance transfer is not possible through Double number, as it will only be used for CLI purpose.
• Users can’t avail SMS and voice buckets on Double Number.
• Users having SMS buckets will be charged Rs.0.50/SMS for each sms they will send to Double Number.
• Users cannot port-out their Double number.
• Double number will automatically become idle after 6 months once the primary number port-out.
• If user has voice & SMS bucket & makes call or send SMS from DN then will be charged as per DN charges.
• Other VAS services cannot be used through DN.

3G Spectrums to be Auctioned Shortly: PTA Chief

The 3G (Third Generation) spectrums have been decided to be auctioned in the next three to four months and subsequently its policy framework would be finalized by the ministry, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Dr Muhammad Yaseen said.
Talking in the seminar “Demand for 3G and beyond” on Monday, he brushed aside an impression that cellular operators are not willing to enter 3G technology and said there are certain operators supporting the regulator to introduce advancement in the market.
He said cellular operators have expressed apprehensions on the launch of 3G technology, which we are trying to clarify regarding the concerns of revenues and demands in the local market.
PTA chief  citing India as an example of 3G market with limited users and revenues added that “We have explained operators the regional markets’ trends and significance of generating revenues in limited demanding market.”

“We (PTA) will offer cellular operators spectrum as they are already license holders of the regulator but they are not bound to launch 3G or 4G because we will give them a choice, so its up to them,” he said. He said the localization of value-added service contents needs to be developed rapidly in accordance with domestic market requirements that will not only promote business at domestic level but will also incite demand of its application through 3G technology on mobile phone.
“Zong has earlier offered a business deal to share 60 percent revenues with content developers and designers of mobile phone and Mobilink has now come up with an offer of 70 percent earning share to them that sounds encouraging to IT programmers in the industry,” Dr Yaseen added.
The seminar was organized by PTA in collaboration with HUAWEI, the network infrastructure maker. CEOs of telecom operators and IT firms, experts and students attended presentations of different technical sessions. Speaking as the chief guest, secretary Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Naguibullah Malik said most of the work has been done in the formation of a comprehensive policy on 3G; however, certain administrative procedures have yet to be taken to conclude the policy phase.
He said he respected the views of all stakeholders of the industry on the launch of 3G technology but the government is always smart to address the national interest of the country, which is supreme to all of us.
A great deal of the ministry’s homework has completed and it is now the responsibility of private sector to render its support to build up the telecom industry towards advancement. Malik said industry stands on a triangle based on policy and regulatory regimes with business models therefore, sound collaborative efforts need to be taken on each part and all stakeholders must be on board for a particular task.
“It is the right time for industry to go for 3G but it could not be done hastily, it takes time and a series of seminars being held in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi is the part of its awareness campaign among all stakeholders of the telecom industry,” he said and added that “terming 3G made delayed is not appropriate because there was not substantial preparedness for it in the past”. Pointing out to the students’ fraternity in the seminar, he said Pakistan is heading towards 3G to be very fair, to be competent and to be judicious.
source: Daily Times

PTCL Providing Medical Assistance in Flood Affected Areas

Pakistan Telecommunication Company LTD (PTCL) in order to reduce the suffering of people in flood affected areas has established medical camps in northern areas.
According to PTCL spokesperson, medical camps have been established in Nowshera, Peshawer, Charsadda, Warsak Road exchange, G.T Road exchange and Charsadda exchange. Two doctors assisted by one dispenser are already performing duties at each camp. Medicines worth Rs. 0.5 million and other medical equipment along with an ambulance have been made available per camp.
PTCL has ensured that these camps and doctors are well equipped so that the maximum number of people get the benefit.
People in these areas are also being provided with food items worth Rs. 1.5 million. Besides this as a general relief, PTCL is also donating 2000 food packages worth Rs. 2.4 million through the Army relief operation to the flood affected people.
So far an initial donation worth Rs. 4.4 million by PTCL has been extended to affected region and people in the form of food items and medicines. PTCL management has pledged to stand by these people in these crucial times and continue to provide any kind of assistance, when and wherever required.

Samsung Go for Multi-Million Dollar Environment Drive

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in electronics and digital convergence technologies, announced the first year results of its extensive PlanetFirst™ initiative, a companywide commitment to become one of the world’s most environmentally friendly companies by 2013.
It has achieved many comprehensive sustainability goals, by investing US$865 million in Green Manufacturing Sites to develop environment friendly products with low emissions and energy saving features.  Samsung’s “Green” manufacturing facilities have made 31% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, while the average energy efficiency of new Samsung products has increased by 16%.
The General Manager Samsung Pakistan, Mr. Steve Han said, “Over the past one year, Samsung has made a global, company-wide commitment for achieving and surpassing our Eco-Management 2013 goals. We are focused on understanding the impact of everything we do and becoming a true leader in sustainable business practices.”
Samsung reported a reduction of 9.6 million tons in indirect carbon emissions due to its products. A transparent third-party verification of greenhouse gas emissions for Samsung’s 39 global manufacturing sites is also being conducted.
In 4 years, 2,134 Samsung products have attained global eco-labels, making it the No.1 company in the world for environmentally friendly products. Within 2010, this Ecology initiative seeks to get “Good Eco-Product” ratings for 80 percent of Samsung product lines. To meet Global recycling standards, Samsung also collected and recycled a total of 240,000 tons of discarded electronics products across 60 countries during 2009.
Of this total investment in Ecology, about US$488 million went into developing energy-efficient technologies, environmentally friendly materials and renewable energy projects. US$377 million was put into pollutant-reducing and energy-efficient manufacturing facilities. It will invest US$5.1 billion till the year 2020, to develop its solar cell business – a renewable energy commitment.
Samsung follows elaborate systems for greenhouse gas reduction, Carbon management and Chemicals Management, which will encompass and educate 4000 Supply chain companies globally, by the year 2013. Samsung will also cut indirect greenhouse gas emissions, from all its products, by 84 million tons, over five years, by investing US$4.28 billion. Samsung 2009 – 2010 Sustainability Report 2009 – 2010 can be viewed at: http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/citizenship/oursustainabilityreports.html

Ufone Raises Salaries By 15 to 25 Percent

Ufone Management has raised salaries of all Ufone employees by minimum of 15 percent across the board and 25 percent for those with outstanding performance during past year, told us sources in the company.
‘Ufone Management has been happy with the overall performance of the workforce and has decided to increase salaries by 15 percent at least”, said a top official while announcing the increment.
All other companies increased salaries last year except Zong that paid higher salaries to only promoted employees.
Its good on Ufone’s part that it hiked salaries in tight economic situation.
Ufone didn’t confirm this increment officially.

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.

Mobilink Super Engineer Competition Concludes

Mobilink team including Rashid Khan, President & CEO Mobilink (centre) along with students of GIKI, FAST and NUST at the prize distribution ceremony of Mobilink Super Engineer Competition held at Mobilink Head office to recognize upcoming, talented engineers

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.