Features of the week:The need to offer converged and qualitative telecommunications services have paved the way for the focus on Next Generation Networks (NGNs) to further reduce digital divide, reports REMMY NWEKE.
Recently the Seventh Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) ended its three-day meeting in Dubai, with a 38-point roadmap as guidelines for migration of telecommunications infrastructure into the Next Generation Networks (NGNs).
This is coming as Celtel’s Subscriber Identification Module (SIMs) and recharge cards are becoming scarce.
Also, telecommunication consumers now besieged Commercial Telephone Operators (CTOs) for various Celtel’s top-up denomination cards.
Champion Infotel investigations revealed that some of the Celtel subscribers who lost out at the initial Sunday Unlimited fortnight ago, took the just ended weekend to prepare themselves by ensuring that they loaded upto N500 and above in order to benefit from the current promotion by Celtel in the country.
Champion Infotel recalls that Celtel recently announced the offering of a promo that gives unlimited free call services to some of its subscribers.
Any qualified subscribers is likely to receive a Short Messaging Service (SMS) the reads like this: “Congratulations! You are now entitled to enjoy up to 60/120 free minutes worth of Celtel to Celtel calls between Saturday midnight and Sunday might.”
Announcing the promo earlier, Head, Public Relations, Events and Sponsorship at Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, said it affords the company’s loyal pre-paid customers the opportunity to make free on-net calls on Sundays only.
He also said that the offer enables subscribers to recharge their phones with a minimum of N500 within the week, and get 60 free minutes to make on-net calls on Sunday of that week, whereas those who recharged N1000 within the same period will attract 120 free minutes.
In addition, Mr. Oparah said that the offer, which commenced immediately on introduction, is open to existing and new pre-paid customers, just as cumulative recharges will also qualify for the free minutes of airtime.
Further investigations by Champion Infotel showed that after the initial Sunday unlimited calls by some of their friends and relatives on Celtel network, most consumers who are on other GSM networks began to buy new Celtel’s SIM cards and recharge their GSM lines immediately.
As gathered by our investigations, even Celtel subscribers who probably forgot about the promo were forced to recall by calls from family members and colleagues on the network, hence necessitating rush for its recharge cards.
Although some of the subscribers who found themselves recharging the same Sunday afternoon expected instant bonus and access to the awards of relevant minutes of free calls were disappointed, but following clarifications by operatives of Celtel and CTOs, consumers were encouraged to continue recharge, afterwards, it would not be a waste, but would be credited to them for use the following weekend.
“After-all I would still get my bonus and free airtime,” one of the subscribers told our correspondent.
Noteworthy was that the first and second Sundays of unlimited free calls saw to the ‘jamming’ of the network for hours as revealed by our investigations late in Sunday evenings.
It was also revealed that most subscribers used the opportunity to call their relatives, especially in the South-Eastern part of the country.
According to those who spoke and those want their names in prints, the development is better than the so called midnight calls that keep them awake on night.
One of the subscribers, informed that she was able to make several calls to her loved family members, whom she saw last December and who are on Celtel network, declaring, “In fact, I did not even remember it until a friend reminded me about it.”
A male subscriber, informed our correspondent that it took him time to get on the network, as he continued to try to get across to his friends since Sunday morning till the evening, but was successful at the end of the day.Internet 2 is a project to develop new technologies for high-performance computer networking, which is specifically developed to facilitate research and educational purposes, the involvement of research, commercial and government organisations also aims to distribute this technology into the wider community.
Spearheaded by a non-profit consortium of universities working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies under the aegis of the University Corporation for Advanced Internet Development (UCAID), develops advanced network applications and technologies, for deployment in education sector with high-speed data transfer purposes.
It is led by 212 universities in partnership with about 60 companies in areas from the networking such as Cisco Systems, publishing firms like Prous Science and technology industries such as Comcast, Intel and Sun Microsystems among others.
Champion Infotel recalls that reports have it that Internet may soon be overloaded due to avalanche of transactions especially the number of electronic mails being generated daily.
Proponents of this opinion said that the flood of data across the Internet have continued to increase, which suggest that sometime soon it’s going to collapse under its own weight.
Noteworthy, however, is that the same report was also awash last year, and in the early 90s, Internet users were merely sending text e-mails of a few bytes each, even as traffic across the main United States (US) data lines, for instance, were estimated at a few terabytes a month, which have steadily doubled on yearly basis.
And by mid 90s, industry observers witnessed the arrival of picture-rich websites, and the invention of the Media Player (MP3), even as suddenly each net user wanted megabytes of pictures and music, and the monthly traffic figure exploded.
It was also gathered that in the next few years that followed were more steady growth with traffic again increasing by estimated 200 per cent.
But since 2003, Internet users reportedly grew astronomically, through YouTube generation for those who want to stream video and download gigabytes of data whilst on the move.
Commenting on this report, chief executive of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), PiNet Informatics, Mr. Lanre Ajayi, said he was not surprised, because the infrastructure on ground seems to be overstretched.
“This has led to development of the Internet 2 with more capacity focusing on education institutions,” he said.
Mr. Ajayi stressed that Internet 2 has commenced in the US, Europe and North Africa, but is yet to get to Nigeria as expected, just as the government and its agencies charged with Information Technology (IT) development are still grabbling in ignorance.
“Internet 2 is having much more capacity and this is because Internet-1 was built without the kind of today’s traffic in mind since most people now want to stream video and pictures among other files that consume lots of bandwidth exist,” Mr. Ajayi said.
He however, decried non-effort of the Nigerian government or any of its agencies in developing Internet-2, describing it as “unfortunately.”
“Our country has not made any serious move in developing Internet 2 or joining efforts in this direction,” he told Champion Infotel.
Also speaking, chief executive of another ISP firm, Amsco Telecoms Limited, Mr. Ndukwe Kalu, noted that the whole Internet is a network connections and where there is a burden is the pipe that connects these networks, such as bandwidth availability.
He pointed out that over 99 per cent of Internet users across six United States-based data or major telcom companies, which developed a national fibre network including OneCom.
According to him, the Internet is evolving from mere text to graphics to video and noted that video is based on bandwidth and that means the capacity, so its not just the pipe, but the Personal Computers (PCs) have to be upgraded too, to meet the demands, citing an instance that with a low end Pentium 2, it (Internet) cannot optimised.
“Internet 2 is evolving in US, so all we need to do is to factor correct infrastructure such as broadband in our development plan,” Mr. Kalu advised.Disclosing this, Managing Director, Beta Computers, Mr. Will Anyaegbunam, said the manufacturers of the award winning SpeedStar range of PCs, would formally open its ultra-modern factory in Surulere area of Lagos, today, Wednesday, July 27.
He also said that the event would be presided over by the Group Managing Director, Union Bank Plc, Mr. Bath Ebong, and supported by the Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, ( NITDA) , Prof. Cleopas Angaye as the special guest of honor.
Mr. Anyaegbunam equally said that other eminent personalities billed to grace the event include the Group Managing Director (GMD), Afribank Plc, Dr Sebastian Adigwe, President, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Dr Chris Nwannenna and his counterpart at the Computers Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Dr. (Mrs) Adenike Osofisan, Managing Director, FedEx, Mr. Isaac Orolugbabe, Managing Director, CI Leasing PLC, Mr Emeka Ndu, Managing Director, Unique Venture Capital Management Company, Dr. Anthony Osa Oboh and former commissioner and governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Chief Hakeem Gbajabiamilia.
The event, he said, is a milestone for the company as the factory is the first of its kind in the country with semi-automated, motorized conveyor line for the actual assembly of PCs with the capacity for 200 PC output.
Mr. Anyaegbunam further said that the event would herald the unveiling of its brand of SpeedStar laptops, code-named “SpeedStar StarNote” series, which the firm claimed was developed over 12 months.
According to him, SpeedStar StarNote, was developed and tested to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality comparable to any international brand Notebook in the market today.
Champion Infotel recalls that barely two weeks ago, Beta Computers introduced SpeedStar Skola, which Anyaegbunam said, was specially designed for learning, education and training both at homes and in schools.
Further, Mr. Anyaegbunam assured Nigerians that Skola PCs offer the best value today in the market for propagating the desired e-learning experience of scholars and to boost Information Technology (IT) penetration in the country.This is coming as NIG said it has commenced establishment of its school chapters in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
President, NIG, Mr. Lanre Ajayi told newsmen in Lagos that the initiative was encapsulated towards making Nigeria a knowledge economy, beginning with a seminar to sensitise Nigerians on what I4J is all about.
The event scheduled to hold on July 12 at Golden Gate, he said, would have as its theme “Internet for Jobs: Promoting Internet Entrepreneurship in Nigeria” is in fulfilment of his team on assumption of office to take the organisation to the next level of its mandate, through promotion and development of local content on the Internet and creating local Internet entrepreneurs.
“Specifically, this was encapsulated in our vision statement ‘to use the internet as a platform for creating jobs opportunities for Nigerians and making Nigeria a positive contributor to the emergent knowledge economy.’”
Mr. Ajayi, accompanied by NIG’s publicity and financial secretaries, Messrs Kasim Akinrete and Bosun Arebuwa, respectively, also said that the aspiration of NIG at this time in point, is to make Nigeria a preferred destination for the global internet-related services including outsourcing web application development, e-commerce and software development thereby creating job opportunities for our people.
He stressed that this issue is pace setting one and germane to the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the country.
He also said that I4J would go a long way in generating interests of the young ones in the ICT sector, and give them the much-needed leap in this 21st century.
In addition, Mr. Ajayi said that the seminar is being organised in collaboration with Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), with support from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), as well as NITDA and Zenith Bank.
NIG is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) committed to the promotion and growth of the Internet in Nigeria with membership cutting across all who are interested in the growth of the Internet technology, irrespective of educational background and current field of employment, including the academia, non-governmental organizations, government parastatals, Internet Service Providers, private organizations and individuals.Chief executive, Tradeways Express, Mr. Larry Chinekezi gave this commitment at the just ended one-day business forum organized by the firm, tagged “Beyond Service, A culture of Customer Satisfaction,” which held in Lagos.
He also disclosed that with Tradeways expansion touching ground in Accra-Ghana, the courier giant is ready to explore the West African market fully.
According to him, the entrance of the company into the Ghanaian market paved the way for major restructuring in its operations.
“We’re now firmly positioned to expand to other West African countries in no distant time,” he said.
In addition, he said that, as the largest indigenous courier entity in the country of today, Tradeways Express, would frequently fashion a means of repositioning so as to surpass customers’ expectations round the clock.
The forum, which is in its third year, he said, affords Tradeways the exclusive chance of feeling the pulse of its customers in order to serve them better and increase its market share within the courier industry in the country.
The event attended by over 80 participants drawn from its customers, courier and other sub-sectors of the economy, Mr. Chinekezi noted, gave a boost to the company, which since inception of business have been persistent in strengthening its visions and plans for each financial year.
“We would always make efforts to continually be focused on exploring means of serving the customers to surpass their expectations,” he declared.
Mr. Chinekezi, while expressing his firm’s appreciation to the participants and staff for their devotion to duty, and enjoined them to be more dedicated, mostly at this time of expansion into the sub-region.
He emphasized that the company would acquire more operational vehicles and also open more strategic offices nationwide and in the sub-region.
These steps, he said, are all geared towards rendering seamless services to its valued customers and to continually strive for uniqueness and efficiency, which the firm have been known for.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Commercial, Mr. ThankGod Ntaku, said that the summit was momentous because it gave the management the occasion to enlighten the public on its customer-centric initiatives.
According to him, Tradeways recently took delivery of branded security seal to further guarantee the security of customers’ shipments.
Mr. Ntaku further noted that the summit was intellectually enriching as well as entertaining, reiterating that Tradeways commitment is to regularly improve upon its professionalism through adequate training for its staff, which is expected to boost productivity.
In his comment, the facilitator at the summit, chief executive officer, Dennis Catherine Consulting, a peak performance and life-coaching firm, Dr Chidi Okpaluba, urged other courier companies in the country to emulate Tradeways in being customer-centric.
He added that Tradeways Express is a force to reckon with in the courier cum logistics industry and that it had all it takes to go as far as making other courier companies both locally and internationally its licensees.
Tradeways, he said, is going to be a reference point to what Nigerians can do especially in courier industry. “Tradeways is going to be a world class brand, all they need is to sustain what is driving them,” Dr. Okpaluba advised.Managing Partner, Intermarc Consulting, Mr. Adeyinka Adeyemi informed that the objectives of the research include to determine the bank with the highest e-banking performance based on consumers’ perception.
In addition, it would seek out the key drivers determining positive performance on e-banking across the country.
Also in executing the study, RMS would interview over 2000 Nigerians with various bank accounts.
The interview would be conducted in 15 states, cutting across the six geo-political zones of the country.
The research, he added would focus on the availability of cash machine popularly known as Automated Teller Machine (ATM), it’s functionality, ease of obtaining and replacing ATM cards as well as the perceived security of ATM transactions, just as it would determine the level of awareness, the availability of credit and debit cards, perceived coverage of the cards, acceptability and the ease of applying for them from the issuing banks.
RMS is also expected to determine the availability of telephone banking and ease of using its facilities across the country.
Also, the study will find out the availability of Internet banking, its reliability and perceived security issues, among others.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Lagos, Mr. Adeyemi, explained the rationale behind the study, saying that it would assist Nigerian banks and other financial institutions in taking full advantage of their investments in e-payment systems.
“It will certainly help the banks to adopt a deliberate strategy and align public perception to position their various e-banking portfolios,” he said.
He pointed out that the market for e-banking products is very promising, as such consumers will continue to demand fast, efficient and convenient banking options.
In order to meet these potential demands, banks will benefit immensely from a comprehensive research of this kind, stressing that the reports of this research will be in two folds, namely on general industry situation report while the other will focus on specifics to each bank in the industry.
Equally speaking, Country Head, RMS, Mr. Aggrey Maposa promised that his company will complete the evaluative research in a record time, with assurance of high literacy level of the respondents who are banks customers.
“We are quite adept with carrying out research in emerging markets; essentially we are an African agency with global perspective. Our focus is the African market, and we stand by our knowledge and the understanding as African specialists, which are evident in our wide-ranging experience across the continents’ market,” he declared.He also advised Nigerians on how best to maintain their Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), so as to save money they could reinvest in other sectors of the economy.
Speaking as a special guest at the opening of Nokia Customer Care Centre ‘Nokia Care’ at the weekend in Lagos, Oba Otudeko, noted that major challenge facing Nigerians and telecommunications subscribers at this time of national development is how to maintain their phones.
He also said that maintaining GSM phones at authorized places through good repair services by renowned mobile phone manufacturers like Nokia is intended to reduce cost of these Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools.
“A major problem of our country is lack of maintenance culture,” he said, stressing that accumulation of goods amongst the good things of life without proper maintenance amount to waste in any economy.
He emphasized that lack of maintenance culture is the key problem of the nation’s oil sector that have left Nigerians yearning for oil products amidst abundant blessing from nature.
While he advocated for excellence in all sector, the business magnet decried that Nigerians spend so much money on phones and needs a good service center in order for them to use their phones for a longer time, far beyond the warranty period.
He expressed optimistic that with the likes of warranty being offered by Nokia in collaboration with Telecare Wireless at this new service center if well tapped, would give telecom subscribers in the country the great opportunity of having enough to invest.
“They would have the opportunity to invest these monies saved for other socio-economic development of the country,” he declared.
Oba Otudeko equally said that the plan of E-tel Group through its subsidiary Telecare Wireless in partnering with Nokia on the service center is to increase the longevity of handsets in the country, mostly the Nokia brand.
“We want to leave this country better than we met it,” he asserted, adding that technology is the brainchild of brain itself and must be used optimally, just as he encouraged Nigerians and subscribers precisely to adapt the ability of even applying some minor repairs on their own.
“This facility is part of our commitment with the Nigerian people to offer proper care to more Nigerians while saving more money for them,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Managing Director, Telecare Wireless, Mr. Peter Rebak, said the center would enable Nokia to draw nearer to its customers, even as they have what it takes to ensure that mobile telecom consumers of Nokia relevance are given the best in terms of services.
He also said that Telecare has the manpower to withstand any number of customers and intends to increase the manpower as time goes on.Addressing the media recently in Dubai, General Manager, Mobile Phones at Samsung headquarters, Mr. K.B. Roh, said this would usher in an advanced immense success of its initial Ultra edition series in mobile phones.
This, he said, gives boast to the slimmest models of phones in the future, especially in the stable of Samsung Electronics.
Additionally, he said that the line-up, redefines the global mobile handset market and sets new standards in terms of performance, design and features, with each model offering advanced features such as 3.2 mega pixel camera, high-speed web connectivity as well as extensive multimedia and audio capabilities.
Mr. Roh also said Samsung is delighted to introduce the new Ultra series into MEA, stressing that it is just an introduction of a few more mobile phones into the market place.
“It’s a testament of our core product philosophy of striking a balance between innovative technology and refined design. At the same time, the new series attests to our aggressive marketing strategy for the Middle East and African market including our commitment to bring the latest mobile communications technology to this region. Samsung has always had a customer-oriented approach to product development and we are now thrilled to introduce our new range in the Middle East and Africa,” he said.
Mr. Roh pointed out that Samsung’s Ultra series has began to attract confidence from business users, fashion-conscious consumers, and multimedia enthusiasts in the region and this is reflected by the approximately 25 per cent increase in sales over the past two years.
Equally speaking, President, Samsung Electronics, Middle East and Africa Operations, Mr. Chiwon Suh said that the success recorded so far on this product series is based on Samsung’s ability to accommodate multiple market segments, just as they expect the ultra edition II to widen and deepen this niche in this region.
“The new range is slimmer and stronger than the first edition and boasts an even more advanced design,” he said.
Mr. Suh described the United Arab Emirate (UAE) as its hub for competition, innovation and business excellence, adding “Our success in this region has further consolidated our market leadership in the high-end mobile phone segments.”
According to him, sales figures for Samsung mobile phones for the Middle East and Africa region have already registered a growth of 73 per cent at the first half of this year, 2007 and Samsung intends to maintain and strengthen this growth till the end of the year.
The ultra edition II range, he said, comes with optimized power usage solution, which guarantees maximum performance by increasing talk time by 10 per cent, stressing that this saves power by 30 per cent and battery capacity by 10 per cent.
Additionally, Samsung’s Smart Surface Mounting Technology (SSMT), which was initially developed for the Ultra Edition range, has been embedded in the ultra edition II handsets, thereby reducing the number of required components, interference and noise made while ensuring that quality does not get sacrificed for good looks.This would facilitate the telco’s desire to offer its services across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
Champion Infotel recalls that early June the telco was given a directive from NCC to stop expansion of its network, which the commission claimed was out of its license coverage.
The latest development, according to the Head, Corporate Communications of Reltelwireless, Mr. Oge Udeagha, was contained in a letter signed by the Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, and dated June 15, 2007.
Part of the letter read that with this approval, “Reltelwireless has been cleared to offer National Mobile Telephony, National Fixed Telephony Services, International Data Access Services, International Gateway Services, and National Long Distance Services.”
Mr. Udeagha pointed out that the telco had earlier secured the national spectrum for its allocated frequencies, covering all the 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, thus making it one of the few telecommunications operators in the country, and the first Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator, to fully pay for a national spectrum as opposed to a regional coverage.
He explained that the company had been working hard to roll out its network across the geopolitical zones of the country and this would be complemented with a mobile license to give its subscribers the roaming benefits of its pan-Nigeria coverage.
“We’re happy that our subscribers can now enjoy unlimited access to our services across the country. It was essential to first roll-out extensively across the country, so that our customers can derive maximum value from the Unified License. This is good news for us, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. We shall be launching our unified numbering plan very soon, and our subscribers can look forward to enjoying our quality service anywhere in Nigeria,” he said.
Reltelwireless currently operates in 11 cities, as the CDMA operator with the most extensive reach in Nigeria, just as it plans to go live in 30 more, within the next two months.
This indication emerged through the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Felix Adeoye, who said that the directive became imperative due to degenerating quality of service on the network, just as it said that MTN response to its earlier query is not ‘unacceptable’.
A letter in respect of the direction titled ‘Issuance of Direction to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited’ dated June 14, 2007, a copy of which was sighted by Champion Infotel, the commission said that it was in pursuance of Section 53 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
The letter endorsed by Mr. Adeoye, pointed out that by virtue of the provision of Section 104 (a) of the same Act, all service providers shall in respect of their specific services meet such minimum standards of quality of service as the Commission may from time to time specify and publish and by its letter dated May 26, 2006 the Commission forwarded the agreed and final version of the QoS indicators to all mobile operators including MTN for implementation.
Mr. Adeoye also noted that by a notice of intention to issue a direction dated May 28, 2007 sent to MTN by the Commission, the telco was mandated to within seven (7) days to comply with the agreed quality of service parameters and submit to the Commission on a weekly basis the report of its achievements on the stated parameters; suspend all current promotions until such a time as MTN achieves an acceptable quality of service level and will be required to compensate subscribers on its network as long as the poor quality of service subsists.
NCC said that by MTN response dated June 4, 2007 that it’s impossible for any operator to comply with the QoS indicators within seven (7) days.
MTN response also stated, “The directive to suspend all current promotions will not be in its best interest, that of the subscribers and will be anti-competitive and unfair.”
Just as the directive to pay compensation by MTN to its subscribers was described by the telco as punitive, unprecedented and retroactive.
Mr. Adeoye also said that the Commission reviewed the reasons advanced by MTN and is not satisfied with most of the reasons in view of the fact that even in MTN’s “it conceded to the quality of service challenges it is faced with.”
Hence, NCC after due deliberation on this matter found that MTN has not complied with the quality of service threshold specified in the notice of intention to issued direction and no new QoS performance indicator was introduced in its notice of intention to issue a Direction as alleged by MTN.
Whereas its call retention ratio with a minimum at 98 per cent of successful call set up remained the same as call drop rate of not more than 2 per cent published in the QoS indicators for mobile services.
Therefore, in exercise of its powers contained in Sections 4 (1) (b), 53 of the NCA, 2003 and Condition 30.3 of the Digital Mobile Licence, the Commission having also considered the appeal of MTN, hereby directed MTN to should comply with the QoS parameters stated the said intention to issue to issue.
“MTN should comply with quality of service parameters stated in the said notice of intention to issue a Direction and should submit to the Commission on weekly basis a report of its achievements on these parameters for an initial period of ninety (90) days or until the QoS improves,” NCC said.
As said by the Commission, it expects to receive the first report on June 25, 2007, instructing that the telco should not embark on any future promotional activities geared towards encouraging more minutes of calls in excess of its current capacity for a period of ninety (90) days in the first instance.
This shall take effect within seven (7) days from the receipt of this direction, and the direction not to embark on future promotional activities as in above may be subject to a thirty (30) day review, so as to monitor improvements in the quality of service level.
“In the event that MTN fails to comply with this direction, the commission shall in accordance with the Nigerian Communications enforcement processes, it would regulations 2005 impose a fine in the sum of =N=5, 000, 000. 00 (five million Naira only) and a further sum of N500, 000.00 (five hundred thousand Naira only) per day that such penalty remains unpaid and for as long as the contravention persists.Disclosing this at the recently held 3GSM in Barcelona, HP said that the sleek and small smartphone delivers a flexible wireless electronic mail (e-mail) experience for business customers through convenient voice control and hands-free operation.
Vice President, Handheld Business Unit, Personal Systems Group at HP, Mr. Dave Rothschild, said that the HP iPAQ 500 series Voice Messenger features Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capabilities, “push” email and the latest Windows Mobile 6 operating system.
In addition, he said that with up to six hours of continuous talk time on a fully charged battery, the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger also leads the competition in battery life., stressing that as the first in HP’s new smartphone lineup, HP iPAQ 500 series helps highly mobile professionals to stay connected wherever they are.
He noted that with more than 20 voice commands available on the iPAQ, it offers customers hands-free operation and the ability to use a powerful “voice reply” feature, just as people could reply to emails by dictating and sending a voice response, without the need for any typing.
“Users also could listen to email and text messages, navigate through phone and calendar tasks and speak to start applications,” he said.
Additionally, Mr. Rothschild said that HP iPAQ Voice Messenger has built-in Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) to provide business customers a VoIP alternative to traditional office phone setups, even as by integrating the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger with office phone systems, businesses could eliminate the need for desk phones and benefit from streamlined communications and reduced Information Technology (IT) management, just as the smartphone also includes Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and EDGE as well as Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity options.
“Busy professionals are constantly flooded with email and looking for ways to quickly and easily manage it and move on with their day,” he said, stressing that HP iPAQ Voice Messenger smartphone gives mobile users an easy way to manage all types of communications and stay focused on their business.”
Based on the new Windows Mobile 6 platform, the HP iPAQ 500 series, he explained provides business professionals with an enhanced Outlook Mobile experience, thus allowing customers to view emails in their original Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) format and enjoy quick access to contacts with the ability to search a call history and contacts database.
According to him, the built-in Microsoft Office Mobile suite provides customers with a familiar, easy-to-use experience is a plus.
Corporate Vice President, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division, Microsoft Corporation, Mr. Todd Warren, said that Windows Mobile 6 delivers advanced communications, increased productivity and integrated mobile business performance; all within the familiar Microsoft software experience.
“We’re pleased to work with HP to offer a device that will help businesses thrive by enabling people to access important data wherever they are,” he said.According to reports from ABC News and Associate Press, the debut of its much coveted iPhone is already sending some frenzy feeling among consumers.
“I’m a slave to the iPod I might as well be a slave to the iPhone,” a telecom consumer was quoted as saying.
Champion Infotel recalls that the chief executive, Apple, Mr. Steve Jobs, had brought iPhone excitement to fever pitch when he announced last January of the intended launch and ever since then consumers have waited anxiously for the iPhone to arrival.
“It’s a cell phone, music and video player, Internet browser and e-mail device.,” Mr. Job declared.
The product would only be available for purchase at Apple stores and through AT&T, the exclusive cell phone carrier for the iPhone.
As said in a recent survey by M Metrics, more than 60 per cent of consumers are aware of what the iPhone is and an unprecedented chunk of those people are interested in buying one.
“Having an iPhone within the first six months is going to be a status symbol: ‘I have one. You don’t have one,’” said analyst Mike Goodman of Yankee Group.
The media has featured more than 5,000 articles about the iPhone till date and the hype keeps growing, with Apple unveiling displays at some of their stores. The company also has posted new iPhone tutorial videos online.
AT&T is so bullish about the consumer interest since they have hired an extra 2,000 temporary employees just to handle the onslaught.
Apple has not even released the $500 ( about N70,000) phone to tech experts for an objective review, but that is not deterring some consumers.
A telecom consumer had told ABC News that he would buy the phone sight unseen because he trusts it.
“I think people are expecting something really innovative from Apple,” said analyst Nick Wingfield of the Wall Street Journal.
“They have done incredible things with the iPod. So, they are thinking that they might have a similar turn out in terms of innovation from the cell phone market,” he added
However, the superstar of the wireless market does have some cons. It is a first generation product, which may mean it could have some bugs or quirks and it’s a pricey venture, with an eight gigabyte model costing $600 and the four gigabyte model $500.This is coming as merchants and cardholders will begin to see the introduction of InterSwitch-enabled cards that feature the Chip & PIN technology as from September this year.
Group Head, Service Delivery at InterSwitch, Mr. Akeem Lawal, said that the availability of EMV at these banks would enabled the usage of its “Chip and Pin” solution with Access Bank and UBA’s Automated Teller Machines (ATM) Driving Front End Processors (FEP).
Mr. Lawal explained that it allows for the acceptance and processing of smart, chip-based cards on all payment terminals or channels on the InterSwitch platform.
He also said that the chip and PIN solution is based on the EMV standard, which is widely adopted in other advanced parts of the world, especially in Europe.
Mr. Lawal stressed that the new solution would afford UBA and Access banks the ability to issue chip cards conforming to ‘EMV’ standard, process the cards, transact on their own in-house systems as well as enable the acceptance of all EMV compliant cards on the ATMs deployed by the banks.
“Cards accepted include the domestic ‘Chip & Pin’ version of the popular InterSwitch ATM/Debit cards and local as well as international VISA chip cards. The existing ATM/Debit cards will still be accepted on all ATMs,” he enlightened.
The group head noted that with this product, Access bank and United Bank for Africa facilitates the usage of the “Chip and PIN” solution to their FEP is a very straight forward way out.
“The two banks ATMs can now accept both magnetic stripe cards and EMV Chip cards. We have used the innate ability of the position switching software to achieve this feat with relative ease and we will continue to build our fully secure InterSwitch payment infrastructure on this platform,” he said.
According to him, the chip and PIN solution offers new features that keep Access Bank and UBA one step ahead of competition.
“I look forward to seeing the new breed of chip-enabled products the bank have in store for their customers,” Mr. Lawal said.
Equally commenting on the revolution, Managing Director, InterSwitch, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe said his firm is using the open standards and proven technology to make already safe payment system even more secured.
“However, what is more exciting are the opportunities that open up with the intelligence that can be put on the chip cards to offer innovative value adding products and services that address customer’s needs and drives banks’ profitability” Mr. Elegbe noted, adding that although Chip & PIN migration in other parts of the world has been very expensive exercise and takes many years to complete InterSwitch was able to achieve this in Nigeria in a few months at a fraction of the cost.
“The complete migration of all the banks on our network to Chip & PIN will take a few more months and the timing for the introduction of Chip & PIN will vary from one financial institution to another, however, the migration will be completed before the end of December 2007” he enthused.
He revealed that beginning in September 2007, merchants and cardholders will start to see the introduction of InterSwitch-enabled cards that feature the Chip & PIN technology.ITU said it has reached an agreement with ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council to utilize satellite communications to improved global response in the face of natural disasters.
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information, Mr. Sanjay Acharya and Head, Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and Emergency Telecommunications at ITU, Mr. Cosmas Zavazava, in a joint statement made available to Champion Infotel, noted that natural calamities have spread mayhem around the world.
The partnership said that severely disasters have impacted on the lives of people and the environment, such as the recent spate of Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, floods, landslides and forest fires have left behind a legacy of lost and broken lives, economic upheaval and sheer devastation, imposing long-lasting impediments to sustainable development and global efforts for poverty reduction.
“The poor, especially those living in remote and isolated areas, are the most vulnerable and disaster-prone,” the partnership was quoted as saying.
It would be recalled that in 2006 alone, 21,800 people were reported to have succumbed to natural disasters, with 95 per cent of those killed residing in least developed countries, just as $65 billion, about the United States Dollar worth 65 billion of economic loss were recorded worldwide.
However, the partnership would afford ICO Global Communications to provide satellite airtime on its F2 satellite for disaster prevention and effective response in the aftermath of natural disasters through both voice communications and other telecommunication applications, including telemedicine.
Champion Infotel gathered that an hour’s airtime would be provided every day for use through ITU to help countries maintain preparedness, provide early-warning information and elicit quick response.
ITU stressed that in the event of a disaster, this time will be adjusted according to demand to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Secretary-General, ITU, Dr Hamadoun Touré, pointed out that the partnership established with ICO Global Communications and the Commonwealth Business Council is an important milestone towards ITU’s effort to save human life.
“Satellite communication provides a platform to deliver a wide range of services and applications even to remote areas. In the digital age, we are able to provide an ICT lifeline to disaster victims and humanitarian personnel entrusted with coordinating rescue and relief operations, especially when terrestrial communications infrastructure is disrupted, overloaded or destroyed,” Dr. Toure said.
He added that while ITU will manage and coordinate emergency telecommunications, CBC would provide content and manage the entrepreneurial skill development programme.
Also speaking, the chief executive of ICO, Mr. Timothy J. Bryan, said that his firm strongly supports the goals of ITU and CBC, and is pleased to contribute via its satellite services to these efforts.
He noted that as next-generation satellite operator, “ICO’s development and global implementation of S-band technology will serve our interests well as we continue to work with key suppliers to create advanced user terminals to access F2 for humanitarian and emergency uses.”
Equally speaking, the Director General, CBC, Dr Mohan Kaul, said, the council is pleased to work with ITU and ICO to contribute towards development and disaster preparedness.
“What is required for the future is increased economic empowerment of wider segments of society, to lift people out of poverty and give them new opportunity. This can be achieved by bringing technology and innovation to the service of many.” He said, adding that CBC need to pursue the ‘democratization of knowledge’ by making technology more widely and freely accessible, especially by means of tele-education and entrepreneurial development programmes, CBC would equip and prepare global citizens for economic empowerment and disaster management.Marketing & Communications Manager at Ericsson West Africa, Mr. Olabode Sowunmi, said that his firm used the occasion to demonstrate why it is the perfect partner for progress in the rapidly evolving and converging telecom world.
He said that Ericsson displayed its capability of full service broadband offering and extensive range of end-to-end network solutions from the company’s stand at the event held in Le Meridien President Hotel Dakar, Senegal.
The company also focused on why mobile broadband is the natural evolution of mobile data services and the tremendous opportunities this offers operators.
Also speaking, Vice President, Networks and Sales Support for Ericsson’s Market Unit for sub-Saharan Africa (MUSA), Mr. Pieter van der Westhuizen, said that the demonstration is a challenging, but exciting time in the telecom market and stressed that the end-to-end network solutions from Ericsson are likely to generate a lot of interest.
“Particularly now that High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is starting to make mobile broadband a reality,” he said.
Mr. Westhuizen explained that the remarkable peak data rates and increased system capacity generated by HSPA has been attracting the attention of operators globally and in West Africa precisely.
“Developing a new generation of Value Added Services (VAS) with HSPA’s was presented at the event,” he said.Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director, Telecare Wireless, Mr. Peter Rebak, said the center would enable Nokia to draw nearer to its customers.
The center located at the Amodu Ojikutu area of Victoria Island, he said would offer full Nokia customer care services, stressing that nowadays, consumers are in search of beyond mere purchasing of mobile tool
“Today’s consumers are looking not only to buy products but expect that these products can be serviced, enhanced and upgraded,” he said.
Also speaking, Senior Customer Care Manager at Nokia for North and West Africa, Mr. Sherif Barakat said the center is supported in a full scale by Nokia’s empowered technical staff drawn from Middle East and Africa’s office.
He equally expressed confidence over the center, saying that as one of the premier centers that will effectively serve the Nigerian market, it has been equipped with the latest repair tools to ensure that customers demands are met at all times.
“This has been opened to keep to Nokia’s tradition of serving its customers whenever and wherever possible,” he said, emphasizing that all Nokia mobile phones which come with one year warranty would be repaired with high quality products, including replacement.
“Nokia gives 12-month manufacturers limited warranty on any Nokia product and is offered from the date of purchase of the original product by the first end user. This limited warranty is valid and enforceable in the country where the product has been purchased, if Nokia intended the product for a resale and Nokia warranty is available in that country,” he explained.
Nokia Care Manager for Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia, Mr. Raymond Olatokun, disclosed to newsmen that the telco has advanced plans to set up collection centers nationwide to ease consumers search for customers care centers.
“Plans are afoot to address the geographical challenges in Nigeria, as Nokia is currently finalizing plans to establish more service points in some of the major cities of Nigeria as well as the remote areas to quickly solve customer service issues,” he added.
