IT & Telecom News Update: 1st Feb, 2010

Punjab government, Microsoft sign accord
A strategic partnership agreement was signed between the Punjab government and a leading computer software company Microsoft here on Friday, under which Microsoft would extend all-out co-operation for the development of local IT industry. The company will also set up an innovation center at Software Technology Park, disclosed an official. Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Javed Aslam and the head of Microsoft Company in Pakistan Kamal Ahmad signed the document.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Minister for Information Technology Farooq Yousaf Ghurki, Chief Secretary, Secretary Information Technology, Secretary Information and President Microsoft for Middle East and Africa Ali Faramawy were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahaz Sharif said that signing of the document is an important event in the history of the province as the three-year agreement between the Punjab government and Microsoft company would prove to be a milestone in the promotion of IT in the province. He also said the information technology is essential capacity-building of various departments.

Google and PASHA arranged a workshop on Online Marketing
Yesterday, a work shop on online marketing and its future was held in Lahore which was organized by Google and PASHA. Badar Khushnood, Pakistan Country Consultant, Google briefed on various aspects including scope and benefits of Online Marketing. The workshop was attended by marketer and representative from different companies.

Badar highlighted that how fast Print and TV mediums are losing their readers and viewers respectively and online medium is getting popular at the same time with tremendous pace. To a question by Badar, all the hundred participants told that they spent more time on facebook and other similar online communities in their daily lives and very few of them revealed that they are spending more than 30 minutes on a daily newspaper.

Honeymoon is Over, PTCL’s Student Package Ends
Just one day after PTCL announced WiFi DSL CPE (router); here comes the bad news, largest broadband internet provider is discontinuing student discount above 1 MB links.

We have received multiple emails confirming this, however, we couldn’t contact call center ourselves. Reportedly, all student package holders who are availing 2 MB links are informed via phone calls that student package offers above 1 MB links are discontinued, and that their speed has been downgraded to 1 MB link.

It will be interesting to watch how other companies will respond to this move. If they will compromise revenues over the new subscriptions they are likely to get if their retain student packages?

Ufone Celebrates its 9th Anniversary
Ufone celebrated its 9th anniversary here on Friday at an impressive cake cutting ceremony.
Mr. Abdul Aziz President & CEO Ufone, during the address to the Ufone team members said, “It is a common belief that it is difficult to smile in these trying circumstances, but we at Ufone, have plenty of reasons to smile and believe that all of Pakistan can find reasons to smile”.  He declared that the next year’s theme for Ufone will be “Spreading smiles”.
“On the auspicious occasion of the 9th anniversary, we look back at all our achievements with a smile and feel content that it has contributed substantially to the development of the telecom sector. Only in the last year we have made the largest contribution (42%) in the revenue growth of the telecom industry & have produced excellent results by clocking 2.5 times growth versus industry average”, he added.

Mobilink Reward Jazz Customers with SMS Khazana
Mobilink has announced the winners of “Jazz SMS Khazana”, an trivia-based contest allowing Mobilink customers the chance to win cash prizes on a Daily and Weekly basis.

At Jazz SMS Khazana Prize Distribution Ceremony held at Mobilink House today, Tariq Mehmood, The 1st Weekly Prize winner of Jazz SMS Khazana Campaign was awarded cheque worth Rs. 500,000/-.