BlackBerry has recently launched BlackBerry Torch touch screen smartphone powered with BlackBerry OS 6.

BlackBerry has significantly improved the touch sensitivity navigation with BlackBerry Torch that includes different home screen options such as Swipe Up – Swipe Down, Swipe left and Swipe Right.

Phenomenal improvement in UI and web kit browser is seen as well in BlackBerry Torch. All finger navigation on home screen popup with something useful on the screen.

BlackBerry OS 6 has changed a lot of traditional actions that previously existed in BlackBerry operating systems. One of the cool features is universal search function for searching contacts, tweets, messages, internet, files and more.

Two more important features that have been introduced with BlackBerry Torch are notification bar for accessing messages, emails and recent tweets for quick access, while another is easy access of Wi-Fi connections and Bluetooth activations.

Display:

Its display is geared with TFT touchscreen 3.2″ HVGA+ 480×360 pixel color display 3.18” measured diagonally with light sensing and proximity sensing screen. It is also ready with feature of user selectable font size.

Processor &Memory:

* 624 MHz Processor.
* 512 MB RAM
* 512MB onboard memory (ROM).
* 4GB eMMC (internal)
* microSD 4GB Media Card Included (Optional)

Connectivity & Location Based details:

It is ready with today’s connectivity needs as listed below:

* GPRS/EDGE/3G
* Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, • 802.11 b/g/n , WPA / WPA2 Personal and Enterprise , Cisco CCX certified , Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server , Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle , Support for Unlicensed mobile access (carrier-dependent)
* Bluetooth® v2.1 +EDR Micro USB, Mono/stereo headset, Hands-free operation, Messaging access profile, Serial port profile, SIM access profile, Stereo audio (A2DP/AVCRP), Dial-up networking (DUN).
* A-GPS
* BlackBerry Maps

Multimedia:

It is capable of standard multimedia functions like:

* 5 MP camera , 2592х1944 pixels, autofocus, LED flash and it is ready with features like Geo-tagging, continuous auto-focus, image stabilization and Multiple picture-taking modes
* Video recording in VGA mode.
* It is ready to play – Audio formats: MP3, AMR-NB, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMV, Flac, OggVorbis and Video formats: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV3.
* Ringtones : Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones, MP3 ringtones, Vibrate mode ,On-screen, LED indicator
* Speaker Phone.
* 3.5 mm Stereo Jack

Applications:

* BlackBerry OS 6
* New User Interface with improved transition effects.
* Document Editor
* Instant messaging
* BlackBerry Maps
* Web Kit Browser (pinch to zoom)
* Podcasts
* Media Player
* Video Player
* Social networking applications.
* Application management
* Online Media Streaming (Browser Access)

Input Selections:

* Hardware slide out Qwerty Keyboard
* Software QWERTY Keyboard.
* Track pad
* ESC key to right of track pad
* Menu key to left of track pad

Colors Availability:

* Black

Bonus Features:

* UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access)
* Enhanced built-in memory and RAM.

Nutshell:

BlackBerry has come up with much better device in touch screen arena especially with better finger swipe navigation controls and sensitivity.

Overall, BlackBerry Torch has enhanced features as compared to its previous models in terms of LCD size, Pixel size, camera and finger touch navigation with traditional QWERTY style hard keypad.

Whereas, BlackBerry Torch’s battery capacity has decreased to 1300mAH as compared to BlackBerry Bold 9700′s 1500mAH.

We can hope that, Blackberry Torch may surface in Pakistan officially by some mobile operator soon, though BlackBerry Bold 9700 was not in hot list of cellular operators.

blackberry comparison BlackBerry Torch – Latest in Line [Preview]

Ufone is now offering its postpaid customers to call at Rs. 3 plus tax per hour from 12 AM to 5 PM to 5 FNF numbers.

This is long awaited treat for postpaid customers, who are usually neglected for incentives and offerings.

This is also first of its kind offer that allows hourly calling for postpaid segment. Though postpaid market is usually considered as corporate and business class, who may not afford calling for hours (in terms of time), still we will have to see how will audience respond to this promotion.

Note: This offer is available for all Ufone postpaid packages, however, a monthly rental of Rs. 50 plus taxes will be added in your current monthly rental.

It also discusses that voice and SMS packages are wastage of time, as necessary communication can be concluded with-in minutes – then why do people talk for hours with no particular agenda in hands?

source : propakistani

Here are details of Zong’s daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly SMS packages: http://propakistani.pk/2010/03/09/zong-monthly-weekly-sms-package/

So the equation is getting more catchy with Zong.

How to Subscribe:

Dial *704# to activate

Charges:

Rs. 2.50 plus tax per day

source : propakistani

Court further said that failure to implement these orders will directly hold Chairman PTA responsible for this.

The order was issued by a Division Bench of the High Court of Sindh comprising Justice Amir Hani Muslim and Justice Syed Zakir Hussain on a constitution petition filed by Sikander Shah who prayed the court to order the relevant police officials to register a FIR for necessary police action and investigation of an illegal act, against respondent Faheem Mughal for uploading altered obscene photographs of his daughter on YouTube.

According to petitioner, who is a resident of Mirpur Khas, respondent Fahim who was a class fellow of her daughter took her photographs from his daughter’s camera phone and also managed to acquire some of her other photographs, altered and uploaded them on YouTube leaving them for viewing for millions of users of the website worldwide.

He pleads the court that Fahim has committed a criminal act that has brought undeserved disgrace and shame to his daughter, him and his family and thus should be adequately punished as per the law.

The court also ordered the Town Police Officer of Mirpur Khas to register the FIR against Fahim Mughal and to have the case investigated by a police officer no lower than the level of a DSP. The Court also ordered respondent Fahim Mughal to deposit a personal surety bond in the sum of Rs 100,000.

It merits mentioning here that there are established businesses based on such leaked pictures and videos or even altered ones. These websites/individuals invade pictures of girls from their camera phones, facebook, orkut, Flickr, Photobucket profiles and then make them available to million of internet users to earn money. In some other cases individuals do such activities just for fun.

source : propakistani

Daily MMS Package details:

* Charges: Rs. 3.99 + tax
* Number of MMS allowed: 150
* Validity: 24 Hours

Note:

* Maximum size for MMS is 300 KB
* MMS receiving on Ufone numbers is free

How to Subscribe:

To subscribe the Daily MMS Package simply send “sub” to 665

How to Un-subscribe?

To un-subscribe send “Unsub” to 8665. Un-subscription is free of charge.

Terms and Conditions:

* The Daily MMS package is available to all Ufone Prepaid customers.
* The service is accessible on GPRS supportive handset only.
* All charges are exclusive of taxes.
* The Daily MMS package is valid for a period of 24 hours from the time of subscription
* The customer can check remaining free MMS by sending a blank SMS to 650 – each inquiry will be charged at 50 paisa plus taxes
* Upon auto-renewal of Daily MMS Package after 24 hours, remaining MMS from the previous day will not transfers over to the next day
* The remaining valid free MMS will be available till expiry time even after un-subscription
* 19.5% FED on usage and 10% withholding tax at recharge or bill applies.

source : propakistani

Mobilink is now in a way associated with Facebook to Offer Free of Cost Access to Facebook – Mobilink subscribers  Won’t be Charged anything for Using Facebook through their Mobile Handsets.

In an Official Facebook Blog Post, Facebook Employee Sid Murlidhar Confirmed that Facebook has launched its Brand New Version “O.facebook.com” for International Audience.

The Newly Launched Website O.facebook.com will offer Free Services to the Users in 45 Countries. The Mobile Networks that will be supportive for this service are 50 in Number.

Fortunately, Our Country Pakistan is also Listed and Mobilink will work in collaboration with Facebook to accomplish the goal of letting the users enjoy Facebook Services without charge.

The Subscribers of Mobilink will be able to enjoy Logging in to Their Facebook Account. They can view the Status Updates of their Friends, Write on their Friend’s Wall and update their Status.

As this Version of Facebook Mobile is especially optimized for working with fast speed the Users will not be able to access the Photo’s on Facebook Profile. A link to the Images will be placed in the Navigation Menu visible on Mobile Screen.

Viewing Pictures is not free. Whenever a User will Click on the Photo Button a Confirmation Message will appear on the Screen stating that you are about to be charged for this service by Mobilink If you wish to pay then proceed.

This step by Facebook may help it generate more Revenue and Engage more users to its services. My Verdict is to Use O.facebook.com only if you are currently using it on your personal computer.

source : propakistani

Adviser to the PM on Information Technology Sardar Latif Khosa faces a mutiny-like situation in his ministry and from the Board of Directors of the two extremely wealthy telecom-specific private sector companies, which the minister heads, but wants to run them in his own style.

There are apprehensions about the fate of a huge fund of more than Rs 20 billion available with these companies. However, what is really a serious matter for Khosa is the opposition that he is facing from his own secretary as well as member telecom of the IT Ministry over the question of key appointments in these companies, which were created for research and development and for spreading modern telecom services in under-served areas of Pakistan.

Already Khosa had a confrontation with his secretary in a recent Senate Committee meeting where yet another PPP Senator Syed Faisal Raza Abidi joined Khosa and shouted at the top officials of the ministry and these companies.

The adviser is alleged to have violated the SECP rules as he ignored the Board of Directors of these companies to impose his own will to get his choice men appointed as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of these companies – the Universal Service Fund (USF) and National Information Communication Technologies Research and Development Fund ICTRDF.

Neither have these companies nor has their fund anything to do with the government as they are registered under companies act with the SECP and generate fund from the telecom operators to support their corporate objectives.

The minister in-charge of the IT is the ex-officio chairman of these companies. Some directors are now seriously contemplating to remove Khosa as the chairman of their companies.

Khosa, when contacted, insisted that he was strictly going by the book and wanted that the appointments of the CEOs of these companies should be made on merit and through a transparent procedure.

He rejected the allegations that he wanted his choice men, including his brother-in-law, to be appointed as CEOs of these companies but said that he was really serious to scrutinize the projects of these companies.

Over the controversies surrounding the key appointments, Khosa has already suspended the company secretary following the intervention of the Senate Committee on IT where Senator Faisal Raza Abidi, interestingly, not only objected to the presence of USF CEO but also sought suspension of the company secretary.

The sources said that Khosa and Abidi, who both belong to the presidential camp, used extremely insulting language against the secretary IT, CEO USF and company secretary in the committee meeting. At one stage, these sources said that one of the senators was heard threatening that he would personally go to the IT Ministry to beat the people there with shoes.

Khosa, the sources said, confronted Federal Secretary IT Najibullah Malik, who insisted that despite being the chairman of the USF Khosa has just one vote and he cannot override the powers and authority of the Board of Directors.

In the rush of blood, Khosa during the Senate committee meeting announced the suspension of USF company’s secretary although the SECP rules say that the chairman of a company could sack the company secretary but only with the approval of the Board of Directors.

The secretary IT Ministry, member telecommunication IT Ministry and all other members of the USF BoD believe that the chairman USF could neither suspend the company’s secretary on his own nor he could initiate appointment procedure for the appointment of a new CEO USF.

Documents available with The News reveal that in one of its recent meetings, the board of USF, with the exception of Khosa, supported the proposal to give extension in the tenure of the incumbent CEO USF. Khosa instead objected that since the item seeking extension of the CEO USF was not part of the agenda, it should be brought before the board as part of the regular agenda for BoD’s consideration.

The BoD agreed to the chairman’s view but decided that the CEO USF would continue till the filling of the post by the board. But later, Khosa asked the company’s secretary to advertise the post. The USF secretary told Khosa that it couldn’t be done without the approval of the board. The company secretary was asked to get the approval of the board members through circulation but it could not happen and most of the members did not reply whereas a few of the members, instead of giving approval to this, asked to take up the matter before the next board meeting.

In the case of the other company, ICTRDF, the sources said that Khosa wanted to appoint his brother-in-law as CEO ICTRDF but it could not happen because the selection committee did not shortlist the favourite’s name after his PhD degree was found to be fake by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

The aspirant is serving in the CDA. Khosa, when contacted, denied that he intended to appoint his brother-in-law as CEO ICTRDF and said that if he wanted to do it, his relative’s name would have been short-listed. Najibullah Malik and Member Telecom, Ministry of IT, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhatti, when contacted by The News said the company act clearly envisaged the BoD was the competent authority and that the chairman of the company had no over-riding powers but had just one vote like any other member of the board.

We have the details of senate’s standing committee on IT, held on May 25, 2010. Very same meeting that was mentioned by Ansar Abbasi in above report. Following is what we call detailed report of meeting:

The account is not in exact sequence and is also not full and complete. However it attempts to capture most of what occurred during discussions on Agenda Item regarding USF.

After the first three items of the agenda were discussed the item “Briefing by USF Company on its program for promoting Telecommunication, Broadband, Fiber Optics and other services in under-served and un-served areas of the country”, came up for discussion. The presentation was put up on the screen. Following occurred next;

• Senator Muhammad Zahid Khan asked who was the CEO of USF and Mr. Parvez Iftikhar introduced himself as CEO USF and tried to start his presentation.

• Senator Syed Faisal Raza Abidi asked the CEO why he was presenting when his contract had expired? And how come he was still serving as CEO USF? CEO politely replied that firstly under Companies Ordinance 1984 till the appointment of new CEO, he has to continue. Secondly, he explained, during the last Board Meeting on 31st March 2010 it was decided by the Board that he should continue till the Board finally decides.

• At this the Advisor to PM on IT Mr. Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan Khosa spoke up that the matter was put before the Board but he declined to discuss it. He said that he instructed the Secretary IT to advertise the post but it was returned with the remarks that the post cannot be advertised without permission of the Board. He said that he then asked the company secretary but the company secretary sent it to the Board members for their views. The Advisor stated that this was a clear violation of his instructions and the CEO is continuing and enjoying all the perks despite that.

• Senator Abidi then shouted in an insulting tone that the contract of “this person” (CEO USF) had expired and he was getting 18 lacs as salary (in reality it is much less) and has signed over Rs. 20 Billion worth of projects (the correct figure is Rs. 15 Billion). He then said that after clear instructions of the Minister In-charge to advertise the post how come he is still working as CEO of USF and how can the company secretary refuse the instruction of the Minister Incharge?

• Mr. Hassan Shiko Company Secretary USF requested to be given a chance to explain the matter. He started saying that USF is formed under Companies Ordinance 1984, Section 42 and registered with SECP with an independent Board of Directors which is equally represented by the government and private sector. Under companies ordinance section 199(3) the existing CEO whose tenure is completed has to continue to perform his duties till either he is reappointed or a new CEO comes in. He was explaining that regarding the advertisement also he needed a Board decision which he was trying to seek.

• But Advisor on IT interrupted Mr. Shiko and said that he does not agree to the existing Board as some Board members are enjoying huge contracts from USF and his instructions were violated by not only the Company Secretary but also by the Secretary IT.

• At this stage Senator Abidi hit the desk hard with his hand and shouted that a strict action should be taken and the Chairman USF Board should suspend the company secretary with immediate effect. On this the Advisor IT also angrily said that he suspends the company secretary there and then.

• Secretary IT tried to calm the Advisor down by calling him his elder brother and assuring him that he had great regard for him. He started to clarify that this matter has been lingering on for a few weeks now where the Advisor’s instructions do not appear to be fully in line with the rules and therefore he has also apprised the PM on this. While he was still trying to put across his point-of-view in a very calm and controlled manner, the Advisor started debate regarding the rules under which the matter is referred to the PM.

• The Advisor accused in a raised voice that people in the Ministry have made a gang under Secretary IT. He said that in this Ministry he (the Advisor) feels just like a clerk as his instructions were not being followed.

• Senator Abidi very angrily added as to how could this be happening when the Minister is himself the Federal Government, while the secretary is a secretary to the Government. He again pointed at CEO USF and asked how this person (CEO USF) is still sitting as CEO, why was the CEO position not advertised?

• Senator Moula Baksh Chandio and Senator Zahid Khan at this stage requested the committee members to also listen to what CEO USF and the Secretary were trying to say and that they should also be given a chance to speak.

• CEO USF pleaded that he may be given a chance to make the presentation as per the meeting agenda to inform the senators as to what USF was doing. Senator Chandio agreed with him and asked the CEO to proceed but as soon as CEO USF started he was once again stopped by Senator Abidi that no this person is not allowed to give a presentation as his contract had expired on 30th April 2010. The senator said that the CEO had no “notification” that he could continue. The Agenda item itself was therefore not even touched during the meeting.

• Secretary IT tried to explain that under company rules, there is an HR Committee of USF Board, which has to take a decision and then the Board meeting decides as per recommendations of HRGC. During the last Board meeting held on 31st March 2010, the case of CEO USF was brought up for discussion and it was recommended by all the Board members to the chairman that the existing CEO is the most suitable person to continue and his contract should be renewed.

• The Minister Incharge cut the Secretary IT’s explanation and angrily denied and said that he declined to discuss this in the Board meeting as this was not an agenda item. The company secretary tried to explain that although the minister declined but the chairman and members allowed the CEO to continue, but he was again shouted down by Senator Abidi who addressed the Chairman and angrily shouted that they, as members of this committee, should decide that the Company Secretary of USF should be suspended and an advertisement for the position of CEO USF should be given, otherwise he would resign from the standing committee.

• Chairman of the committee Senator Safi suggested that an Enquiry Committee should be created to find out the exact situation. The members agreed to this and a sub committee comprising of three members, Senator Saleem Saifullah Khan, Senator Muhammad Zahid Khan and Senator Maula Baksh Chandio, was suggested and seconded by rest of the members. But at this stage Senator Abidi intervened and recommended himself to be included in the enquiry committee saying that he would personally investigate the matter.

All this time the tone and manner of Senator Abidi and Advisor IT was very loud and very insulting especially towards Secretary IT, CEO USF and Company Secretary of USF. In between there were several derogatory remarks made against the burocracy in general.

At one stage Senator Abidi said that he would personally go to the Ministry and beat the people with shoes.

The three persons who were being targeted were not allowed to speak. Whenever upon asking by other senators that the three should also be heard, they started to say something they were angrily shouted down by Senator Abidi and Advisor IT. They were also not interested in the working of USF which was the actual agenda item.

At several stages senators like chairman senator Safi, senator Saifullah Khan, senator Zahid Khan and others tried to put some sanity into the proceedings but Senator Abidi and Advisor IT did not let that happen.

Mobilink has launched MobiStore, an online marketplace that allows buyers and sellers of mobile content to interact.

With MobiStore, you get a chance to upload your ringtones, wall-papers, music, videos, animations, games and many other applications to make money on every download. Through Mobilink Mobistore, you have access to sell your content to over 30 million potential customers. Get paid for selling your content at a WAP marketplace that receives 30,000+ hits per week!

Terms & Conditions for Content Providers:

* Content providers can sell their content by registering for Mobistore.
* By registering to Mobistore, the customer agrees to the terms and conditions laid out in the registration form.
* For registration, the customer must have an active Mobilink number and the number should be registered in his/her name.
* If the number is not issues in his/her name then the content provider will have no claim over the revenue share.
* The content provider will not be charged anything for placing the content on the Mobistore website.
* For details kindly see the terms and conditions shown in the website.
* By registering, the content provider will be entering into an agreement with Mobilink, whereby it will sell its services using the Mobistore interface and a portion of the revenue will be shared by the content provider with Mobilink and platform administrator.

How to Upload Content on Mobistore:

* Customer will visit the website
* Customer will enter his/her mobile number and other relevant information to register for the service
* Customer will receive a welcome message from 7156 along with the password
* The customer can then upload the content by using his MSISDN and password

How to Purchase Content from Mobistore:

* Customer visits the site and selects the content to download from the site
* Customer will be asked to provide a valid Mobilink number
* The customer will receive an SMS telling him/her the charges of the download.
* The customer will have to reply to this message with “yes” in order to download the content. If the customer sends “yes” then the requisite amount will be charged
* Another SMS will be sent to the customer with the link for downloading the content. From this link the customer can download the content

Content Download Charges

Currently content charges are PKR 5, 10, 20 depending on the content type. All prices are exclusive of taxes

How to Report Abuse:

Both the users and content providers have the option of reporting any abuse for any product that they find immoral or not according to the norms of the society. The customer will have to select the content which he/she finds offend able and then report it. The administrator will then assess the nature and extent of abuse and a penalty will be levied on the content provider accordingly. In order to report abuse customers must also register for the service.

source : propakistani

This is apparently due to the fact that cellular companies don’t withdraw subscribers’ data from their records after a user ports out of their network. Hence, whenever they queue a promotional SMS, it is sent to all subscribers, even to those who are now part of other mobile networks.

Situation worsens particularly when a user opts for MNP service to jump to more than 2 or say all mobile networks. He ends up getting promotional messages of all the previous networks plus his current network.

Even more confusing state is achieved, when SMS sender numbers of more than two mobile companies match, for instance, if Ufone is using 301 for a particular service and messages are sent from 301 – while on other hands Telenor is using same number (301) for a service and messages to Telenor subscribers are sent from 301, in this situation, MNP users barely distinguish the source network of the message.

As we have more than 3 million MNP users in the country, by not sending SMS to other network subscribers, mobile companies can save huge resources. (Only if cellar companies don’t do this intentionally, to market their new products and services to those who have ported out)

PTA may need to intervene in this by making it essential to withdraw all details of those users who have ported out of any mobile network – and not to engage ported out customers in any promotional activities.

source : propakistani