WiMAX Operators Impose Service Charge of Rs. 50 Per Month on All Packages: ProPakistani

WiMAX Operators Impose Service Charge of Rs. 50 Per Month on All Packages
Punjab Gets its First Center for Land Record Management Information System
Best Android Tablets Available in Pakistan
Bureaucracy and its Unfamiliarity with ICT: Causing Damage to Nation
APNIC and PTA to Host IPv6 Workshop in Islamabad
JAZZ Launches Bonus on Usage
Samsung Utica E2252 with Dual SIM Support Introduced

WiMAX Operators Impose Service Charge of Rs. 50 Per Month on All Packages

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 03:06 AM PDT

WiMAX operators are apparently inspired by cellular companies who have imposed several service charges on services.

A notification sent out to Wateen customers reads that Rs. 50 per month will be deducted from all customers on all packages as a monthly service charge.

A note published on Wateen website says:

Wateen strives to deliver best quality and uninterrupted services to our valued customers. To meet the desired satisfaction levels during the prevailing economic situations, a monthly service charge of Rs.50 has been applied on all WiMAX packages with effective from 11th June 2012.

wi-tribe wrote on its website:

at wi-tribe, achieving service excellence is a constant, ongoing process. To ensure we continue meeting our community's service expectations in today's economic conditions, a monthly service charge of Rs.50 will be applicable on all packages, effective 1st June 2012

Qubee also said that it will deduct service charge of Rs. 50 on all packages from June 2012.

Such an act of imposing similar service charges with same name in same month could draw attention of Competition Commission of Pakistan, authority responsible for regulating pricing and competition in Pakistan.

Punjab Gets its First Center for Land Record Management Information System

Posted: 18 Jun 2012 02:31 AM PDT

Chief Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif has inaugurated the first Land Record Management Information System (LRMIS) Service center in Lahore.

With Land Record Management and Information System (LRMIS), government of Punjab will digitize all land records of the province, due to which people will not only get rid of corrupt mafia but it will create conveniences in transfer of properties and getting 'Fards'.

With the inauguration of At LRMIS service center, and more in pipeline in at least 11 districts of Punjab, customers will be offered to obtain fard malkiyat and other relevant documents and details of a property within 30 minutes, that too without any mishandling at the hands of Patwaris. Also, transfer of a property (with verification) can be done within 50 minutes.

The state of the art digitized land record system, already being worked at in 11 of the Punjab districts, will put an end to the vicious patwari system and the loot and plunder of the land mafia.

Reports say that the operational staff for Land Record Computerization Project is being recruited through the Punjab Public Service Commission without any role of Patwari and Tehsildars.

Inaugurating the service center, CM got details of a property verified himself from a service counter by obtaining a token, paying Rs. 50 verification fee and giving his thumb impressions 4 times.

A camera at the counter, set by default to take a snapshot of the customer, took CM’s picture too to put the verification of the property details by the CM on record.

More information on Land Record Management and Information System (LRMIS) is available here: http://www.punjab-zameen.gov.pk/

Best Android Tablets Available in Pakistan

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 11:38 PM PDT

Gadget experts opine that tablets are going to replace regular desktops and laptops in next few years. Due to their portable nature, tablets are best placed to offer optimum solution for business, academic and entertainment needs of individuals.

This is probably why software and hardware makers (from Microsoft to Samsung) are focusing on Tablets.

Having said this, due to in availability of high speed mobile internet in Pakistan a.k.a 3G, tablets are yet to make an impact in local markets. But with possible emergence of 3G or even with lowering tariffs for GPRS/EDGE services, chances are that soon tablets will get common in our hands.

To get you prepared for that, we are presenting following list that consists of Android tablets which are best in their respective price ranges:

Takhti 7 – Rs. 15,500

We already told you about takhti 7 just couple of days back. Takhti 7 is a 7 inch Pakistani tablet offered by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in co-operation with INNAVTEK.

It comes with Android 4.0, 1Ghz processor and 512Mb RAM. The tablet has a front-facing camera, G-sensor, Mini USB 2.0 port, HDMI port, rich codec support and expandable memory.

Compared to other tablets, Takhti 7 is amazingly cheaper, coming at Rs.15,500 only but its availability is limited (i.e. in Rawalpindi/Islamabad only, as of now at least).

Archos 70 – Rs. 24,990

Archos has managed to make a good, cheap tablet in Archos 70.

Archos 70 is a cheap tablet which runs on the aged Android 2.2. It has a 7 inch touch screen with a resolution of 800×400. It has a 1Ghz processor, front facing camera, card slot, mini USB, mini HDMI and 256Mb RAM.

The tablet skips out on the camera, a good build and android market (which can be enabled by a simple hack) but still it manages to be a respectable tablet in this range at Rs. 24,900.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 – Rs. 31,900

A mid-range tablet, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is not only cheap but also comes with a rich feature set.

It comes with a 7 inch screen with a resolution of 600×1024. It has a 1Ghz dual-core processor with 1Gb RAM. Back boasts a 3mp camera with a front-facing camera as well.

Tablet has 8/16/32 Gb expandable storage. Bluetooth 3.0, USB-on-the-go, micro USB, compass etc are all onboard too.

Tablet runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is available for Rs. 31,900.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer – Rs. 39,990

The strongest competitor against the Ipad 2, Asus Eee Pad is still a great tablet. It has a 10 inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1280×800.

It runs on dual-core 1Ghz processor with 1Gb RAM. The back has a 5mp camera with HD video recording. OS running is Android 3.0 upgradeable to Android 4.0.

A front-facing camera, mini HDMI port, USB 2.0 port, card slot and scratch-resistant screen are all there too. Additional docks can be bought for the tablet separately and at Rs. 39,900 its a great value for money.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 2 – Rs. 44,900

Original tab wasn't very impressive but the Galaxy Tab 2.0 is one of the best in this range. Packed with a 10 inch screen with a resolution of 1280×800.

A 1Ghz dual-core processor and 1Gb RAM power the tablet. The camera is of 3mp resolution with HD video recording with 2mp front facing camera at the front as well. OS is Android 4.0 pre-installed covered in Touchwiz. Bluetooth 3.0, HDMI, card slot, USB-on-the-go are there too.

For Rs.44,900 Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is a very good package.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime – Rs. 57,990

Easily the biggest competitor to the new Ipad, Eee Pad Transformer Prime has brilliant specs.

To start off, it has a 10 inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1280×800. The OS running is Android 3.2 upgradeable to Android 4.0.

The machine is powered by a quad-core 1.2 Ghz Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with 1 Gb RAM. The back has a 8mp camera with Full HD video recording. A 1.2mp camera is at the front too. A HDMI port, Corning Gorilla glass and stereo speakers and additional docks (brought separately) are there too.

And even at Rs.57,990, Asus Transformer Prime still offers a huge bang-for-the-buck.

Bureaucracy and its Unfamiliarity with ICT: Causing Damage to Nation

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 11:35 PM PDT

The qualifier of a Central Superior Services (CSS) exam is considered certified among the few extraordinarily genius beings capable of serving the country at higher governmental cadres.

For a common person, the image of ‘bureaucracy’ (or those passing out these CSS exams) refers to a clan of super-genius officials busy in preparing policies centered to their own benefits. It is deemed, generally, that their chairs are disconnected from approach of a man in street.

Such circles lack the familiarity with the latest Information and Communication (ICT) tools, which are important enough to be termed as "fifth dimension" for our survival. Except private sector, which is on the front in accepting latest advancements, the adoption of ICT tools is not welcomed by public-sector entities, mostly.

Coming to the side of general public, the usage and knowledge of such tools is increasing amongst youth. Shortly, the only reluctance observed in accepting adoption of ICT is from government and administrative circles. One of the main reasons behind such fact is the executives are not ready enough to welcome any sort of ICT-based change.

Most of international educational and scholarship competitions demand good scores in tests like GRE, TOEFL and SAT etc. Therefore, in addition to attaining grip on the particular subject, acing such tests also demand a good know-how with computers and internet. Thus the individuals selected are not only intelligent in their own subjects but also good computer users, so overall in par with stipulations of such digitizing globe.

Developing countries, including Pakistan, suffer from the gap between officials and public which in turn leads to conflicts. Thomas L Friedman, in his book "The world is flat" stresses the need on the officials' part to be accessible to grass-root level of a society. Availing internet properly promises so.

Despite expansion of web throughout the country since its beginning in 1992 and provision of incentives for promotions of IT by the government, the country's public-sector, especially administration, still lacks familiarity with advanced usage of ICT tools.

You can still see large sized paper registers for documentation in range of government offices, from Post offices to hospitals. Local and multinational companies offering ICT solutions, ranging from digitization of public records to unified communication, face hurdles when they propose such solutions to government officials.

A democratic country's prosperity and development also depends on the degree of freedom and equality of human rights. In addition to following developed western countries in education and research sector, there is also need to copy the way their administration works.

A few of the potential advantages by integrating latest ICT tools to our bureaucratic system are:

Maintenance of integrity and transparency (due to inherent nature of digital stuff being "straight forward")
Ease of access to officials
Ease in identifying organizational crimes and frauds (by linking domestic law enforcement agencies to NADRA's record)
Legal use of power

Achieving such advantages demands a warm reception of IT in our bureaucratic setup. Therefore, steps aimed at attracting ICT professionals to civil services need to be taken in spite of the reality that a CSP officer, through out his service, has to attend specialized courses, some of which may cover limited ICT-related topics. Also some compulsory computer science and technology related topics should be introduced to CSS syllabus.

APNIC and PTA to Host IPv6 Workshop in Islamabad

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 11:30 PM PDT

Asia Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) are organizing a 3 days' workshop on the topic of Internet Resource Management, IP version 6 (IPv6) and DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC).

The training workshop is scheduled to be held from 18 – 20 July, 2012 at Best Western Hotel Islamabad.

This training workshop will highlight key essentials of Internet resource management. It will focus on understanding the structures, processes, procedures and policies involved in requesting, allocating and managing Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and Autonomous System (AS) numbers. With regards to DNSSEC, the concept of DNS and security mechanisms, such as TSIG and DNSSEC. The deployment of DNSSEC will also be discussed in detail with practical demonstration.

During day 2 and 3, the training workshop will focus on providing an understanding and hands-on exposure to IPv6, its structure, operation and technical features. IPv6 addressing and architectures and the issues related to the deployment, transition and co-existence with IPv4 will also be examined.

The workshop will also feature hands-on IPv6 configurations on host computers, as well as IPv6 network building and configuration scenarios. Participants will have the opportunity to work on lab exercises related to deploying IPv6 in dual-stack operational IXP/ ISP environments as well as native IPv6 transit.

Necessary information of the workshop along with registration details are available at:

www.apnic.net/events/calendar/training/2012/workshop-pk-18Jul12

This would surely be a great event as International trainers from APNIC will be arriving in Pakistan to deliver technical tutorials and education with regards to Internet resources. Community members interested in participating are encouraged to get themselves registered for the workshop.

JAZZ Launches Bonus on Usage

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 10:43 PM PDT

Mobilink Jazz is offering its customers a bonus on daily basis, i.e. bonus free minutes and free SMS every day for consuming Rs. 10 plus tax (Rs. 12.19) for making calls or for sending SMS.

So if you have consumed Rs. 10 plus tax then dial *275# to get free 100 on-net minutes and 100 Free SMS for next 24 hours.

Mobilink will charge 0.60 paisa every time you dial *275#.

All Jazz customers including Jazz One, Jazz Budget, Jazz Jazba can participate in this offer except for Jazz Easy subscribers.

Mobilink on its website says:

This new offer from Mobilink Jazz holds true to our belief of introducing the latest and most innovative offers for our customers and keeping them connected to Pakistan's most popular game. Because when it comes to cricket, 'Ye khel apna hai', just like MobilinkJazz 'Apna Hai'.

To read more, click: JAZZ Launches Bonus on Usage
ProPakistani.PK

Samsung Utica E2252 with Dual SIM Support Introduced

Posted: 17 Jun 2012 10:31 PM PDT

Samsung has announced the arrival of the Samsung Utica E2252, a dual SIM phone.

Utica E2252 is said to deliver a rich and smart mobile experience, with 'Active' Dual SIM and long-lasting battery life. Samsung Pakistan continues to unveil new mobile phones at a rapid pace to keep abreast of technology and consumers' needs, offering users a wide variety of phones to enrich their lives.

The metallic silver Utica E2252 offers consumers a 208 MHz single-core application processor and a 2.0-inch display with color depth of 262K. Utica E2252 sports a simple curved-edged design and a 2.0-inch TFT capacitive display supporting a pixel resolution of 128×160.

Its features include 20 MB memory, a single and dual SIM support a 1000mAh battery with talk-time up to 710 minutes and stand-by time up to 760 hours. Utica E2252 offers multimedia features including a VGA camera, MicroSD (up to 32GB), FM Radio, and built-in torchlight.

Connectivity features include: Bluetooth,, USB 2.0 connectivity , Samsung Apps, instant messaging through Samsung ChatON, IM. This lightweight, portable device provides users with videoconferencing capacities, offering a QCIF video resolution with a frame rate of 15fps.

The launch of Samsung Utica E2252 is a worthy addition to Samsung's category of affordable phones and reflects the company's commitment to cater to the communication needs of diverse consumer segments, providing customers with real value for money.

Utica E2252 is likely to be priced around Rs. 5,500 in Pakistan

world on your screen

Monday, June 18, 2012