IT & Telecom News Update 11th Feb 2010

Google Buzz challenges Facebook, Twitter
The world’s No. 1 search engine on Tuesday launched Google Buzz, which allows users to quickly share messages, web links and photos with friends and colleagues directly within Gmail, the company’s popular email product.
Also, a new arsenal of products make the new social networking features compatible with mobile devices such as smartphones based on Google’s Android operating system.
Google’s new technology mimics some of the key features of popular social networking services like Twitter and Facebook, which are increasingly challenging Google for Web surfers’ online time.
By integrating Buzz directly into Gmail, Google hopes to jumpstart its social networking push by leveraging the large pool of Gmail users.
“There’s always been a giant social network underneath Gmail,” said Google Product Manager Todd Jackson at a press event at Google’s Mountain View, California headquarters on Tuesday.
Gmail is the third most popular Web-based email in the world, with 176.5 million unique visitors in December, according to comScore. Microsoft Corp’s Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo Inc’s Mail were No. 1 and No. 2, with 369.2 million and 303.7 million unique visitors, respectively.
Google will roll out Buzz to Gmail users over the next few days, it said.

ATM Complaints lead to penalties on 33 Banks

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) penalized 296 branches of 33 commercial banks over violating the central bank’s instructions related mainly to their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) functionality
According to the sources, the fines, ranging from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 500,000, summed up to Rs. 20.2 million over the penalized bank for also violating the instruction of distribution of fresh currency notes along with ATM complaints.

Warid sets industry standards of customer care
Warid Telecom (Pvt) Ltd country’s third largest and the most caring cellular operator with an aggregate of 18.71 million satisfied customers sets industry standards of customer care excellence. In a recent report issued on customer complaints by Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) Warid Telecom is the telecom operator with the lowest customer complaints in 2008-09.

It clearly reflects the level of customer trust and effective after sales services Warid provides to its valuable customers. Warid Telecom has one of the largest distribution channels and customer services network in the country, allowing it to offer wide accessibility and exceptional customer services across Pakistan.

At Warid, the philosophy of service excellence is practiced in a manner where customers are given no chance to complain and in case of any issue customers are given immediate resolution through highly personalized and caring service

NAB approves reference against former DG Finance of PTA
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has approved a corruption reference against former Director General Finance of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for misappropriation of Rs 80.175 million. The Executive Board of the Accountability Bureau met here on Wednesday with Naveed Ahsan Chairman NAB in the chair gave final nod to the corruption reference against former PTA high-up, sources in the NAB told media.

The reference was sent to Accountability Court Rawalpindi for hearing against the accused, they said, adding that Imran Ahmad Zuberi had misappropriated the amount of Rs 80.175 million of the PTA by opening fictitious accounts and used this amount for personal gains. Imran Zuberi, is absconding and arrest warrants were issued for his detention, sources said. They said there’s possibility of arrest of the accused when the hearing starts in the Accountability Court as the NAB is busy in chasing the accused

Ufone to hold Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists
Appreciating the role played by Pakistani media in providing information to the people in very trying times, Ufone has announced a capacity building initiative that will train journalists for reporting in security sensitive situations.
Akbar Khan, Chief Marketing Officer at Ufone announced the initiative at a dinner hosted in the honor of the elected cabinet of the National Press Club Islamabad.  The capacity building workshop will be held with international trainers in the month of April this year.
President National Press Club Afzal Butt thanked Ufone for inviting the elected body and emphasized that telecommunication and media were interconnected in many ways and support each other. He hoped that the cooperation between Ufone and the National Press club will further grow. He proposed a few steps to strengthen the relationship with the journalist community