SMS money transfer

Features of the week:

The zeal to optimize the Value Added Services (VAS) by Nigerians has turned Short Messaging Services (SMS) into a money transfer channel, reports REMMY NWEKE.

Financially upset student, Chijioke Ikegbu, was still perplexed when he left the faculty building at the Institute of Management Technology (MIT), Enugu, in the heart of Eastern Nigeria recently.

He needed to pay up his semester examination fees which balance stood at N5,000, (about $50) to enable him partake in the semester exams due in 48 hours. The exam now two weeks ahead of schedule was to avert intended strike by the school’s lecturers over better working conditions.

And making a call with only credit of N15 left in his Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) handset, was suicidal because by the time he finishes with salutation and raise the main issue of the call, it must have ran out.

So, he decided to send an electronic short message known as Short Messaging Service (SMS) to an uncle in Lagos, Mr. Clinton Mechee. SMS within the nation’s telecom industry has become very popular with the deregulation and coming of GSM in the last five years.

Soon after, his uncle called to reassure that the required amount would be sent to him within 24 hours.

What it is …
Experts at United Kingdom-based Hairydog Guide to mobile phones, said SMS is part of the GSM specification that has since become very fashionably used among subscribers, even on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) platform. Often referred to as ‘Texting’ mostly among teenagers, it is intimate, personal yet non-permanent and popular with the networks because it is seen as profitable.

Made up of text of upto 160 characters, SMS is sent to the phone whether or not engaged in a call. The effect of this is to give mobile phone the facilities of an alphanumeric pager, but with confirmed delivery of messages. Unlike with a pager, the system holds undelivered messages, and resends them at intervals until receipt is confirmed.

By pressing on the menu of your phone and scrolling to ‘messages’ subscribers could send SMS by locating the submenu for writing messages or writing new messages. Type in messages via the phone’s keypad and on completion, could now be sent by pressing the ok/yes button. Followed by the entering of the recipient’s number, press Ok.

In Nigeria, SMS are still restricted between GSM and CDMA network operators, as GSM subscribers could only send SMS to one another and the same applies to CDMA subscribers too.
SMS has evolved into other information and communication technologies (ICT) such as being sent from Internet connected computers or vice visa, mainly obtainable in advanced countries.

SMS money transfer:
The following day, Mr. Clinton bought three recharge cards of N2,000 denomination, making up to the value of N6,000, he scratched out the silver panel and send the recharge numbers revealed to Chijioke, with the instruction to approach any Commercial Telephone Operator (CTO) within the school vicinity and offer to sell the numbers for an exchange of cash.

Luckily, Chijioke did as directed although he was able to sell below the N6000 value as he was paid N5,550, a deduction of N150 per card, yet he was very excited at the speed with which the message was delivered, he became sure of taking the exam with his classmates after all.

Hitherto:
Ordinarily, Chijioke should have embarked on a night journey to Lagos, coupled that he needed to rework his lectures for the semester before the examination which meant he would have been out of school at least two or three days to make a return trip to Lagos.

Aside from putting himself to risk despite the campaigns of the Road Safety Corps against such trips, he would be exhausted for some days to come. No doubt his presence in Lagos would have put the uncle under stress and consequently spending more money. That is, providing Chijioke with the return fare, the actual exam fee and then some pocket money for upkeep.

According to Mr. Clinton, he was bound to spend not less than N12,000, approximated $100, if Chijioke had come to Lagos State in the South West, personally.

Merits and demerits:
He also said that the stress was not there as he took his time to go to the bank, withdrew some money to buy the recharge cards even at the bank before sending the details.

Mr. Clinton, who said he has used that new method which he described as ‘SMS money transfer’ to send money to some relatives during Christmas celebration last December, noted that even what banks charge to send little money was what precipitated the ideology in the first place which is nowhere near what the CTOs would eventually deduct which never exceeded N200.

For him, this is the safest and fastest because by sending the digits cum ‘money’ to the potential recipient, he receives the message directly and safely, as long as the network is active.

Further, Mr. Clinton explained that with his little expertise, one demerit of this trend is that if the numbers are discovered or get into the wrong hands, it is as good as lost, because it could be used or loaded before the actual recipient resells or recharges with it.

Secondly, if the phone gets lost at the time of having this message there is no means of recovering it. While another demerit is that any amount above N12,000 could be difficult to sell to a CTO and get instant cash.

Nowadays:
In the nation’s telecoms sphere, all the four GSM operators now offer SMS along with some Private Telephone Operators (PTOs) as Value Added Services (VAS). Whereas some GSM operators offer theirs for N15 at peak hours and across networks, like Vmobile offers SMS for N10 during off peak. SMS is also offered by some PTOs at N10 within their networks.

Then, entered e-Nnovate, an annual VAS expo organized by XLR8 Nigeria, with its Chief Executive, Mr. Calixthus Okoruwa, saying the essence was founded on premise of empowering populace with the ability to be more meaningful in today’s digital age.

He pointed out that the platform was envisioned to enhance popular appreciation through adoption of technological tools and applications.

Recalling that Africa still falls far below expectation in the usage of computers, Internet and telephone, due mostly to Africans’ inability to adapt and appreciate technology “in our every day lives”.

Based on this realization and wider implication of a negative impact on the economic growth and development on the continent that gave rise to what he described as ‘sobriquet’, the digital divide.

Waiting for Africa:
Mr. Okoruwa stressed that the world of technology is continuously in flow of advances hence “the rest of the world is not waiting for Africa to catch up”.

The expo, Mr. Okoruwa noted is an attempt at bridging the digital divide, mostly with its three-phased approach, comprising de-mystifying of technology by providing technology-driven companies a platform not only to showcase their technology products but also to train users and potential users alike on the uses and applications of such technologies.

On the other hand, the expo avails operators a useful feedback as to the popularity of their products and service solutions, besides enabling conceptualization, development and marketing of innovative solutions by operators to optimize the value for themselves and end-users as well.

An open secret …
The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, has persistently advised Nigerian phone users among the ICT consumers to learn the features of their digital tools so as to optimally enjoy them, moreso in this era of convergence enthroned by unified licensing regime in the nation’s telecom sector.

For Communications Minister, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Nigerians should play active role in provision of mobile content development and applications embedded in VAS.

Above all, he said, it permits people to conduct even transactions without physical presence with their clients.

However, an open secret is that the likes of Mr. Clinton could have learnt the ‘SMS money transfer’ concept from such expo as e-Nnovate, ever since, he has been using it and spreading the gospel of SMS in his vicinity.

As we move forward, it’s noteworthy that by this time next year a new revelation would have come to the fore, all for the benefit of end-users to optimize technology applications.

NetnearU signs MoU with Intel on WiMax

IN order to increase the wireless internet access penetration with Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), leading wireless Internet access service provider, NetnearU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Intel Corporation in Lagos to deploy WiMax nationwide.

This is coming as Intel has reassured local assemblers of Personal Computers (PCs) in the country of its improved partnership support.

WiMax is a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL).

Vice President, Intel Corporation, Dr. John Davies, who stood in for his firm gave this assurance and said that WiMax has been made available to the public over a year by the firm.

He also said that Intel is keen on opening the market through enabling connectivity by mainstreaming its base stations deployment.

Describing Nigeria as a veritable market place, Dr. Davies said, that was the reason behind Intel’s opening of its West African office in Lagos, last week.

He further said Intel would work with local PC assemblers, even as it has commenced partnership with the Nigerian government and some organizations in the areas of ‘Teach to the future’ project, connecting communities and driving digital content.

He used the opportunity to activate the newly deployed 300 hotspots by NetnearU, thus bringing the number of hotspots by the company to 327.

Explaining the MoU, Managing Director, NetnearU, Mr. Kaycee Kennedy, said it would avail Intel to provide hardware solutions to tackle the challenges faced in deployment of computers in the country, like the issue of affordability, and reaching out to rural areas.

Also, Mr. Kennedy, said his firm is expected to benefit by way of receiving advice on WiMax deployment, while the two firms are to collaborate on projects such as Computer for All Nigerians Initiative (CANI), Wireless Without Worry (WOW) and rural connectivity.

On the other hand, NetnearU, is to provide broadband Internet connectivity, using appropriate technology including WiMax to homes, schools and offices in the country, while also exploring other opportunities of collaboration with Intel, even as the MoU is to lower the cost of WiMax deployment for internet access nationwide.

He said corporate individuals and organizations who signed on the NetnearU hotspots would get a flexible and cost convennent chance to own Hewlett Packard (HP) NX6110 Celeron or Centrino business notebook, equipped with Globacom’s Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS)-enabled Internet cards.

Stressing that apart from these laptops on offer, it is bundled with two years warranty, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) capability and insurance policy that cover theft, loss and fire.

Some of the NetnearU hotspot in the country include NetnearU café, Chocolat Royale, Barcelos, Dolphin Estate, Astro Turf 2000, Irrua, NTA stations in Benin, Ibadan, Kaduna and all Chicken Republic outlets, as well as Federal Housing Authority Estate, Alexandar Café and NIIT Abuja respectively.

31-man MIT delegation @ DBI, seeks partnership

A 31-member delegation from the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in United States, weekend, paid a one-day visit to the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Abuja.

The team which was received on arrival at DBI by its chief executive, Dr. Olu Ogunfemi, was accompanied by the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and some senior members of staff at DBI, directors as well as commissioners from NCC.

DBI, which is approaching its two-year is an initiative by NCC to curb lack of capacity building for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country and beyond.

Dr. Ogunfemi who disclosed the visit to newsmen in Lagos, said though the delegates were led by a Nigerian in diaspora based in United States, whose name he did not disclose, the essence was basically to find areas of co-operation between the two institutes.

Although he noted the partnership would likely toe the path of previous deals with the likes of George Washington University (GWU), Montreal Institute of Telecommunications and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

“There are other plans which are now on the pipeline,” he said.

Dr. Ogunfemi also said, DBI believes in pooling of resources, stressing that it would help to improve the students of DBI and Nigerians expertise in ICT generally.

The delegate, he said, were conducted round DBI premises to see for themselves what the institute is doing and even held some practical sessions before their departure.

DBI an initiative of NCC, is part of a larger effort by NCC to practically sustain and drive the growth trends of the nation’s telecom industry.

ITRealms Online recollects that soon after the advent of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), there was a shortage of qualified technical and managerial man-power to support the rapidly growing telecommunications industry.

Scam promo: MTN absolves self, warns subscribers

Leading mobile telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria has absolved itself from a scam promo by some people aimed at defrauding unsuspecting subscribers of money through various denominations of recharge cards.

Corporate Services Executive of MTN Nigeria, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, who disclosed this, said that the telco is disassociating itself from the scam, even as she warned subscribers to be at alert by not allow themselves to be victims of this scam.

She said that reports reaching MTN showed that some fraudsters have either made voice calls or sent Short Messaging Service (SMS) to subscribers alleging that they had won various items such as DVD players, music sets, etc, in an MTN organised promotion, and they should therefore send PIN numbers of unused N1,500, or N3,000 recharge cards to enable them courier the prizes they purportedly won in fictitious promos.

“Unfortunately, some members of the public have fallen victim to this unwholesome act. We wish to inform the public that MTN’s Recharge and Win promo was concluded in March of 2005 and all the prizes have already been given to winners,” MTN said.

Recalling that likewise, the Y’ello Season promo and the Y’ello Family Game Show promo ended in December 2006 and the prizes won and presented.

“Anybody that is asking for PIN numbers of unused recharge cards in order to hand away the prizes is undoubtedly a fraudster and should be promptly reported by the subscriber,” said Mrs Oyagbola in a press statement made available to ITRealms Online.

Mrs Oyagbola further disassociated MTN from the scam promo and advised members of the public to quickly alert any MTN office or put a call through to our customer service centre number (180) whenever they receive any call or SMS requesting for recharge cards before they could receive prizes won at an MTN promotion.

“Winners of the various promotions in MTN have never been asked to pay before collecting their prizes. They have had their prizes delivered to them at the MTN offices nearest to them.

We even went a step further to deliver star prizes to the doorsteps of winners, as was the case with the Family Game Show promotion star prize winner,” she maintained.

Mrs. Oyagbola also warned perpetrators of this act and other such scams to desist from this unwholesome attitude as MTN, as a good corporate citizen and in order to protect its subscribers, is obliged to hand over their particulars to the law enforcement agencies for investigation and criminal persecution.

Vmobile increases eastern base stations by 400%, shines @ Enugu fair

Still in the euphoria of its achieving 5 million active subscriber base, Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) service provider, Vmobile Nigeria has increased its base stations in the eastern part of the country by 400 per cent.

This is coming as Vmobile shines at the ongoing Enugu International Trade Fair through strategic branding at the fair, which has become cynosure of eyes by visitors to the Fair.

The increase in Vmobile network in the eastern Nigeria was sequel to the success of its project ROSE introduced last year to expand its network nationwide. ROSE, is a subscriber based nomination of sites for installation of base stations.

Regional Sales Manager, South-East, Vmobile, Okechukwu Nwaeze, disclosed this at the this year’s Enugu International Trade Fair, said ROSE has contributed to increase of base stations on the network from just 45 last year, with additional 180, bringing the total to 225 base stations in the last one year.

He also said Vmobile has stolen the show at the on-going international trade fair in Enugu, Enugu State.

“The position of our stand, which is situated very close to the entrance of the Fair ground, is strategic. Our competition expected us to be at the usual place, somewhere inside the Fair ground, as we had done previously, but we kept the position of our stand at the Fair close to our chest until the last minute” Mr. Nwaeze said.

He also said, as part of the branding strategy for the fair, Vmobile partnered with the franchise owners of the Fair to provide Vmobile T-shirts for ticket sale and security staff at the Fair.

“We also took to painting a portion of the wall of the fair ground in Vmobile colours, to increase top of the mind awareness for visitors to the Fair,” Nwaeze said.

Noting that the excitement showed by subscribers and potential subscribers alike when they visit Vmobile stand, saying what impresses them most is the quality of service of the network.

Explaining further, Mr. Nwaeze said the network’s expansion in the region in the last one year has been phenomenal, especially with Vmobile’s project ROSE.

This, he said, has impacted positively on the quality of service offered our numerous subscribers in the South East.

Vmobile Nigeria, he said, is at the Fair to maintain the relationship it has with its customers in the area and to provide advisory services for its subscribers and potential subscribers.

In addition to the bundle of value services subscribers of the network enjoy at the Fair is information on how they could take advantage of the project ROSE initiative to increase their towns’ chances in the on-going SMS competition.

Hello @ Abuja on MTS

The pioneer wireless telephony services company, MTS First Wireless penultimate Thursday, commissioned its network at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Head, Corporate Affairs at MTS, Mr. Reuben Muoka, said that the availability of services in the FCT is coming shortly after the formal commercial launch of services by the company in Abeokuta and Ibadan.

He said that subscribers in FCT have already commenced enjoying all the benefits and services available on the MTS First on its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA 2000 1X) network, including the recent slash in international tariffs to as low as N15 per minute, Internet services and value added services such as Short Messaging Service (SMS).

Speaking on the Abuja service, Chief Operating Officer (COO), MTS First, Mr. Damoye Oyesiku, said the commissioning of the network is strategic to MTS First’s plan to cover over 20 cities before end of this year.

“We are happy to be the latest partner in the infrastructural development objectives of the FCT with the introduction of our affordable telephone services to individual, corporate and government establishments in the city” he said.

Mr. Oyesiku also said that apart from providing services to the city, the Abuja network would serve as MTS launching pad to other cities within the FCT environs.

Noting that MTS services are available on a variety of handsets including desktop and CDMA handsets. He said subscribers on the Abuja MTSFirst network would use a numbering scheme prefixed known as 09- 720 xxxx.

MTSFirst, which prides itself as a multi-services national telecoms operator in the country, is licensed to provide wireless telephony services, national long distance communications, international gateway and Internet services respectively.

Celtel equips top team for African market

STILL keen on grabbing its own market share in the West African telecommunications sector, with special emphasis on Nigeria, the management of Celtel International Bv of Netherlands, has equipped its top team with a training session at the London Business School (LBS).

ITRealms Online recalls that Celtel’s investment on the continent is over $750 million, even as Nigeria is yet to benefit strongly in this area.

The training recently concluded saw 25-key officials from Celtel West Africa based in Sierra Leone attending the LBS Advanced Management Programme.

The programme, ITRealms Online learnt was designed for top 80 people within Celtel globally.

The 25-person team from West Africa represents about 20 per cent of the total beneficiaries, an indication that it is determined to get hold of its market share in the sub-region, precisely in Nigeria.

The West African team included the Vice-President Operations, Mr. Lars Stock, Finance Director at headquarters, Mr. Peter Cannan, and Human Resources and Administration Director, Mrs. Fela Adeyemi, who was formerly head, HR in PwC Nigeria, among others.

The course, which focused on developing a systematic approach for making critical business choices by evaluating different choices of action, also explored personal influence in taking Celtel forward and becoming a leader with impact.

The themes covered, according to the source, included managing upwards, cultural intelligence, being entrepre-neurial and empowering others.

ITRealms Online recollects that Celtel is one of the companies that initially bidded for the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), but withdrew when the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), refused to demerge Mtel from the company on sale.

“CelTel remains very much interested in entering the Nigerian market,” our source said.

Celtel has networks presence in 15 countries including Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Republic, Congo Democratic Republic, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

VIA supports Trusted Platform Module

Taiwanese chip company, VIA Technologies has announced cooperation with industry partners to ensure broad Trusted Platform Module (TPM) support for VIA’s market-leading lineup of chipset solutions for the Intel, AMD, and VIA processor platforms.

TPM technology is an industry effort aimed at reducing some of the risks facing modern day computing.

It is expected to tackle issues such as data theft, unauthorized Personal Computer (PC) access, and unauthorized network access, the TPM standard incorporates a number of capabilities that will be increasingly important as businesses and users give greater priority to safe computing.
The TPM architecture comprises a discrete module connected through the chipset South Bridge, with associated BIOS support.

VIA said that as a premium chipset provider, it has been working with industry partners to ensure leading TPM support to meet growing customer requirements.

This entails that VIA has validated STMicroelectronics TPM modules together with VIA’s latest South Bridge solutions, and leading BIOS solutions from AMI and Insyde Software supporting TPM technology.

Vice President of Product Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc, Chewei Lin, said, “Security is a growing concern for all PC users today, and with Trusted Platform Module technology the industry is working together to provide a fully packaged solution that addresses user concerns.”

Pointing out that VIA as the second largest chipset provider globally, is proud to be working with leading industry partners to offer our joint customers advanced TPM support for next generation OS and user requirements.

VIA, a foremost fabless supplier of market-leading core logic chipsets, low power x86 processors, advanced connectivity, multimedia, networking and storage silicon, and complete platform solutions that are driving system innovation in the PC and embedded markets.

In a related development, VIA Technologies, recently unveiled a new product, an EPIA certified mainboard for computers with C7 processor.

EPIA is short for the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, which promotes photovoltaics at the national and international levels assist members in the development of their businesses.

While a mainboard is a computer term used as the same as motherboard and Personal Computer (PC) mainboardFind; a printed circuit board used in a PC.

VIA Technologies while announcing its latest in shelf, EPIA EN-Series Mini-ITX mainboards, said, the first of VIA’s ultra compact platforms have as feature the VIA C7 processor, making it the most powerful EPIA platform to date.

MTN ready for unified licensing – Opeke

LEADING Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator, MTN Nigeria, has said it is technically well positioned for the Unified Licensing Regime (ULR) offerings.

Chief Technical Officer (CTO) at MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Funke Opeke said the company is currently positioned to take on the unified licensing offerings, mostly with its scalable backbone infrastructure in the country.

Speaking at the just concluded GSM Africa conference held in Abuja, Mrs Opeke, who dwelt on ‘MTN Nigeria, Leverage for growth’ said that MTN current operational areas which covers the six geopolitical zones.

Additionally, she said, MTN has 12 switch locations with a centralized network management center, which helps the telco to know and monitor where there is a hitch within a short interval.

The CTO further said that MTN readiness is evident in its 2000 BTS sites and over 6,000 kilo meter (km) Y’ello Bahn microwave backbone while another 3,500 km which she described as ‘blaze fiber optic backbone’ is pending.

Although she noted that there are some challenges facing telcos, the CTO said that microwave capacity constraints reflects on performance issues and could amount to compression of services, thereby limiting new service offerings.

Mrs Opeke also offered some antidotes, saying that deployment of fiber optic should be unlimited for any telco so as to provide backbone for capacity growth, even as she emphasized that adequate network redundancy and diversity should be optimized.

While facilitating new services, operators, she said, should be encouraged to deploy next generation platforms, such as the Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Third Generation (3G).

She also informed that MTN Nigeria plans to penetrate farther into the nation’s landmass with already mapped out deployment schedule.

The CTO maintained that new regulation, obviously in ULR would spur increasingly diverse modes and points of interconnection, just as plans are up to grow the multimedia services on the network.

ITU Telecom World goes to Geneva

International Telecommunication Union (ITU’s) flagship industry expo, ‘ITU Telecom World’ is heading to Geneva come 2009.

ITU Secretary-General, Mr. Yoshio Utsumi announced this said that the decision was subsequent to an evaluation of all bids received based on a recommendation of the ITU Telecom Board made mid last month.

The event renowned as major meeting place for the global information and communication technology (ICT) community brings considerable economic benefits to host cities.

As a result, competition among the four finalists was reportedly fierce, with all submitting very competitive bids.

ITU informed that six countries had originally applied to host the world event but two withdrew their offer during the process.

The four finalists were Birmingham (National Exhibition Centre), Dubai (Jebel Ali Exhibition City), Geneva (Palexpo), and Paris Nord (le Parc des Expositions).

Mr. Utsumi said his office was very impressed with the calibre of bids received.

“The Geneva authorities have made rigorous efforts to underline their support for the event, and have provided the most cost-effective package for the exhibitors, participants and organizer alike. We are pleased to award World 2009 to Geneva in recognition and acknowledgement of the positive commitments made in their offer” he said.

Geneva’s bid, according to him, includes the implementation of a mechanism to control the management and price of hotel rooms through cost control measures and the removal of any minimum-stay requirements.

The decision to award the 2009 event to Geneva was made on the basis of over 20 criteria including a financial offer covering both the overall costs to exhibitors such as hotel accommodation, rental rates and sub-contractor rates and the fulfillment of a series of technical requirements consisting of the quality of the infrastructure, the suitability of the venue, as well as the overall attractiveness of the location assessed through an independently conducted survey of telecom stakeholders.

Also the decision was influenced by taking into account the need to respond to the ICT industry to see the event move to another major ICT market after Hong Kong, the international character of Geneva as a hub for international organizations and businesses and its central geographic location, at the heart of Europe and equidistant from the markets of Asia and the Americas.

Executive Manager, ITU Telecom, Mr Fernando Lagraña said that all four candidates offered very attractive destinations for those attending the event.

“While only one can win, I am confident that the high-quality of their offers and the tight race to select the host of World 2009 will encourage the other candidates to bid for future ITU TELECOM events”, Lagraña said.

Today is Globacom’s day @ Enugu Fair

Globacom would today, Wednesday April 6, hold its special day at the on-going Enugu International Trade Fair.

Public Relations Manager at Globacom, Mr. Bode Opeseitan disclosed to ITRealms Online and said that the telco’s participation at the 17th Enugu International Trade Fair has continued to generate excitement and interest at the Abakaliki Road, Enugu venue of the Fair.

Globacom, which is the official telecommunications partner for the Fair, has on display an eye-popping stand described as the best designed pavilion, he said.

According to him, the custom built exhibition structure was made as a mobile shop to give the throng of visitors to the stand quality service in a relaxed ambience.

He also said that some of the visitors to the Globacom stand, including current and potential subscribers, declared that having prided itself as building a world class telecoms network, they never expected anything less classy from the network that has continued to redefine standards in the telecommunications industry since it rolled out services in 2003.

The presence of the Second National Operator (SNO) at the Enugu International Trade Fair, he said, has also been of immense benefits to its dealers who have been making good sales with the opportunity provided by the presence of the network.

Evenly, some of them engaged the services of young undergraduates and students to sell Glo products to the large number of visitors at the Fair grounds.Various value added services are also being demonstrated at the Glo stand with many visitors making enquiries on how to configure their handsets for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Mobile Internet and Mobile Banking and also on how to track their vehicles and containers.

Chinese firms to set up handset plant @ Akwa-Ibom

IN continuation of the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country, plans have been concluded by the two Chinese electronic firms to set up plant in Akwa-Ibom for the manufacturing of mobile phone handsets.

This is coming as the Chinese firms, China Electronics Corporation and China and China Jinshilin Techno have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Akwa-Ibom State through its Ibom Science Park Company Limited.

The plant touted to be of world class is expected to soon swell the African mobile phone marketing and distribution arena.

Slated to be sited at Akwa Ibom Science Park, Uyo, the plant is billed to be of appealing value to be attractive and drive value to its shareholders.

Champion Infotel gathered that China Jinshilin Techno and China Electronics Corporation, Shanghai were represented at the signing ceremony in Akwa-Ibom by the General Managers, Mr. Zhang Zuoping, and Min Sheng Ni, respectively.

While the State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Dr. Linus Asuquo, stood in for the Ibom Science Park, which is expected to actualize the manufacture of cell phone casing in Akwa Ibom in the next six months.

The Chinese firm representatives also examined the site of the Science Park, and commended the State government on what they saw, just as they assured on their part to ensure that the plant takes off as planned.

In his comment after the signing ceremony, the State Commissioner, Dr. Asuquo, expressed appreciation on the investors’ interest for creating ideas, which are aimed at the technology development of the state.

He also commended Gov Victor Attah for his foresight and support in establishing the Ibom Science Park, which he said, is the first of its kind on the continent.

He equally disclosed that plans are up to make Ibom Science Park a free trade zone where all Information and Communication Technology (ICT) components imported for the development of the park would be tax-free.

Information Technology Consultant to Akwa Ibom State, and Executive Vice Chairman, Teledom Group International, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, noted that the state is prudently investing its cash from petroleum into other areas that would sustain the wealth of knowledge and creativity for her people, in preparation for the rainy days.

He pointed out that this was why Teledom Group is keen in partnering the state on the project.
“I congratulate Obong Victor Attah for his vision, courage and patriotism in embarking on the Ibom Science Park Project” he asserted.

Champion Infotel authoritatively gathered that other co-tenants of the park would include CISCO Systems, which is billed to host the network academy, Vee Network (Vmobile Nigeria), Omatek Computers Limited, Teledom Group, among several others entities.

NCC rechecks Nokia 2115 type approval

•Warns on promos

FOLLOWING avalanche of complaints from telecom consumers at the March edition of the Telecom Consumers Parliament, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed its technical division to recheck the type approval of Nokia 2115 mobile phone, being sold in the country.

This is to ensure that it was the correct type approved for the nation’s telecom market that is being used.

This development came as NCC also warned telecom operators over ‘difficult to decipher’ promotions, saying that it would not take it lightly with any operators indulging in such activity.

Chief Executive, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, gave these directives at the 28th session of the monthly parliament, held at Oyinbo, a suburb of Lagos State.

He said that following complaints from parliamentarians at the session, that NCC has to recheck the Nokia 2115 mobile phone’s type approval first before further investigation or action could be taken.

Complaints were rift that centered on the model’s temperature increasing tremendously even if a call of less than five minutes is made with Nokia 2115 phone.

He assured that if the model is discovered to have problems, it would be withdrawn immediately.

However, investigations by correspondent on Nokia 2115 currently sold in the country, showed that there are two types of Nokia 2115 Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless phones in the nation’s market.

The two types were manufactured in two separate countries, namely China and Mexico.

The difference, according to investigations is that the Nokia 2115 manufactured in China do not have Internet enabled facility, while the same product purportedly made Mexico, have and seems more updated, yet they are both sold at the same market place with collusion of mainly CDMA operators.

Equally based on inundated complaints on some promotions, especially that of MTN Nigeria and Glo mobile, precisely on ‘bonus on next recharge’, EVC had directed that any promotion that is difficult to understand by consumers, should be stopped immediately.

Pointing out that if officials of a telecom operator could find it difficult to interpret or explain intrigues in a promo by their company, how much more a lay man.

He reminded telecom consumers that their first place of call for complaints is their respective operators’ help desk.

Underlining that it is only when this effort fails that consumers are encouraged to proceed to complain to NCC through its Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB).

“Which would take prompt steps to ensure that the complaints are resolved and consumers satisfied,” he said.

NCC considers new technology

•Advises on fixed lines

TELECOM regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may be considering on introducing a new technology that allows conversion of signals from mobile and fixed and vice versa, just as consultations have been advanced to treat calls within the West African sub-region as local calls.

Also, NCC has advised telecom consumers to imbibe the culture of using fixed lines at homes.

Executive Vice Chairman at NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, who gave these indications in Lagos, said the detectable new technology would allow a mobile phone user to switch a call to fixed especially if the call is coming from a fixed line and mobile to mobile.

This, experts said would drastically reduce the cost of tariffs paid by Nigerians, who would like to call at anytime.

In addition, it would generate enough traffic for both fixed and mobiles.

This indication was a response that followed complaints by subscribers at the 28th session of monthly Telecom Consumers Parliament, held at Oyinbo-Lagos, for downward review of call tariffs in the country.

According to him, there are consultations going on to enable calls at the sub regional level to be treated as local calls within the West African states.

“It is good that consumers are concerned over tariffs,” he noted, advising Nigerians to imbibe the culture of using fixed lines for now, mostly when conducive, especially at a station such as homes and offices.

He further said, it would assist them in managing the cost of their mobile phones especially on the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) platform.

According to the NCC boss, there is always a price to pay for mobility phones such as GSM anywhere in the world.

Nigerians, he said, could, for instance, cut down on the amount they spend on calls, mostly if it is a local call that could be taken at a station, either at homes or offices, instead of using mobile all the time.

“Only use the mobile when on the move,” he advised.

Emphasizing that by managing calls well there would be more money in the pockets of Nigerians, just as he counseled consumers to always look out for the lowest call tariffs available
“… Because, that’s the essence of competition,” he asserted, stressing that mostly now there is a unified licensing regime that competition would soon increase, all to the benefits of consumers.

Vmobile achieves 5m active subscribers

Vmobile Nigeria has announced the attainment of 5 million active subscribers on its network.

Chief Executive, Vmobile Nigeria, Mr. Willem Swart, said that the feat was achieved last month and is evidence of acceptance of the network’s products and services by the populace.

“The feat achieved in March 2006 is evidence of the acceptance of Vmobile products and services by Nigerians. It is also evidence of our modest contribution to the growth of the Nigerian telecom sector,” he said.

He also credited the feat to the goodwill and patronage of Nigerians as well as the commitment of the company’s employees.

Noting that with the huge investments currently being made in network coverage expansion, quality and customer services, the company will continue to experience an increase in subscriber numbers.

He pointed out that Vmobile supports a policy whereby the subscriber numbers of major networks are audited by independent auditors and published by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), on a regular basis.

According to him, this would prevent opportunistic claims by the various networks and keep Nigerians informed about the actual growth levels of the industry.

Emphasising that by international standards, an active subscriber is a phone user who has received an incoming or made an outgoing call on the network in the previous three months.

Vmobile, he said, reports subscriber numbers based on the global standards of activity in the previous three months.

Mr. Swart also restated the telco’s vision, which has been to provide world class customer services so as to make telecommunications an enjoyable experience for all Nigerians.

Tradeways wins delivery of Coca Cola promo entries

LEADING express and logistics company, Tradeways Express Nigeria, has won the handling of Coca Cola’s pick up and delivery of entries for the ‘Speak Football’ promotion.

General Manager, Sales and Marketing at Tradeways Express, Mr. ThankGod Ntaku, disclosed this development to Business Champion, explaining that the promotion, which kicked off week on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), has put the duty of picking entries from the 16 Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) plants across the nation on Tradeways Express.

Reacting to the partnership with Coca Cola for the fourth time consecutively, Managing Director, Tradeways Express, Mr. Larry Chinekezi, articulated his satisfaction on his firm’s living up to the expectation of Coca Cola International in the past which has positioned Tradeways as well known for high standards.

Mr. Chinekezi also said that the selection of Tradeways Express was a confirmation of the fact that the company has the wherewithal to take courier services to multinational companies in the country.

Equally, Mr. Ntaku noted that it was not surprising that Tradeways was selected as, because of what he described as track record of the courier firm.

"We have done it three times successfully in the past" he declared.

Stressing that Tradeways has made a lot investment in the past four years on its logistics and is still expanding.
"Considering the fact that we have made a lot of investment in logistics between 2002 when we began operations and now, our services could only but delight Coca Cola the more" he asserted.

Mr. Ntaku was optimistic that the confidence reposed on Tradeways Express by Coca Cola would be justified through excellent service delivery at all times.

Business Champion recalls that recently, Tradeways Express concluded a three day business summit at the Protea Hotel, Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, which focused on excellent service as the only tool for market expansion.

Just as the courier firm had launched its electronic posting of proof of deliveries through the internet.

This the firm said, would boosts its integrated internet tracing and tracking system that affords customers the opportunity of monitoring the status of their documents and packages.