ENUMber may replace email addresses

Cover of the week:

The global telecommunications regulator, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) may introduce ENUMber in the near future to replace series of number-coded facilities an individual may have.

The possibility of latest evolution in telecommunications based on ENUM numbering is predicted to replace electronic mailing system (e-mail) addresses among other new things to come.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) experts informed that this evolution has the tendency to equally replace telephone numbers, web addresses and any other personal devices whether portable, stationary, mobile or base associated to an individual will be coded with ENUMber.

In other words, any individual with this ENUMber automatically become “A play-station, cell phone, desk phone, car, refrigerator, and maybe family dog will have your ENUMber address attached to it,” one of the concerned experts said.

Our sources also informed that with the latest, “Your ENUMber will replace your email address. ALL your communications can be connected through it,” even as the President of the Swiss Internet User Group (SIUG), Mr. Norbert Bollow, noted that there is a palpable fear over the ENUMber, which raises some severe privacy concerns.

Already, some industry analysts have alleged that ENUMber is a formula to checkmate on the movement and usage of certain facilities by the advanced world despite the generic concept the protagonists are preaching.

Champion Infotel gathered that the clarification of the Radio Frequency Protocol (RFP) of ENUMLLC is due to take place at RFP bidders conference, Richardson, Texas-United States on January 23, 2008.

Some members of the ICT-based Civil Society Groups are calling for caution as we look forward to the outcome of the meeting on RFP come next month.

The Country Code-1 (CC1) Electronic Number Mapping System ENUM Limited Liability Company (ENUMLLC) was created in August, 2004 to address implementation issues surrounding ENUM based on work completed by the ENUM forum, as well as ongoing work at the IETF and ITU-T, the LLC has initiated several work projects.

End-user ENUM platform, the LLC, has created technical specifications that would allow the implementation of ENUM Tier 1A registry services for countries that participate in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) and the implementation of ENUM Tier 1B registry services for the United States.

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ECOWAS experts endorse cybercrime standards

The Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) experts drawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the weekend, endorsed new standards on combating cyber crime in the sub-region.

This follows the conclusion of a workshop in Lome, Togo, organised by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The workshop also endorsed a roadmap for implementing the guidelines at the sub-regional and national levels as well as the proposed establishment of West African Council on ICTs to monitor implementation of these set standards and other matters related to the Information Society.

Champion Infotel gathered that the latest standards were developed by the ECA in response to a request made by ECOWAS and the West African Monetary Union (UEMOA).

In addition, it is aimed at modernizing the instruments for promoting e-commerce, preserving personal data and curbing cyber crime through the necessary sub-regional and national legislation.

Communications Officer at ECA, Makane Faye, also informed that ECOWAS Heads of States are expected to adopt the guidelines as directives in 2008.

Faye also quoted the Minister of Communication and Civic Education of Togo, Mr. Gahoun Georges Hegbor, while opening the session, noted that regions have to prioritise their takes in ICT based on the most important to them.

He pointed out that these priorities include e-commerce, data protection and fight against cyber crime.

He commended ECA for wanting to bring its support to ECOWAS, UEMOA and their member states to take into account the needs of the Information Society (IS), stressing that this will lead to a concrete operationalization of National Information and Communications Infrastructure (NICI) plans in the region.

The current developments in ICTs within the region, it was gathered represent a major opportunity for the economic development of the continent, especially for boosting regional integration efforts.

Even as it could lead to the emergence of cybercrime and criminal justice systems in ECOWAS would not fully be equipped for dealing with the phenomena. The new guidelines are an important step in addressing some of the gaps in the justice systems.

The workshop attended by ICT experts cutting across lawyers, parliamentarians, private banks, economic operators, academia and economists from West Africa attended the workshop.

Just as ECOWAS, UEMOA, the African Union (AU) Commission, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), the West African Telecommunications Assembly (WATRA) and the International Organization of Francophony (OIF) also attended.

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Remembering Me2U @ this season

Market Intelligence:

In a season like e del Fitri, Christmas and New Year, some products and services come handy in terms of sharing the joy of the season and that is why it is relevant to remember the like of ‘Me2U’ introduced by one of the Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), Celtel Nigeria.

According to the telco Me2U is airtime transfer service that is designed to enable subscribers share airtime also known as credit or top-up on their Celtel lines with their friends and families, also on Celtel lines as frequently as they desire to do so, irrespective of location and time.

Celtel officials stated that some of Me2U benefits include a 24-hour availability, which means that airtime could be sent anytime of the night or during the day

In addition, Celtel explained that subscribers could top up on behalf of family members or friends.

Subscribers could transfer airtime on this platform by sending a text message to 432. This, of course, would be after entering ‘2u [space] [space] [space] .”

For instance, to transfer N50 worth of airtime to subscriber 08021234567, the text sent would read, thus: 2u 08021234567 50 1234, that is where the Personal Identification Number (PIN) is 1234.

The second step involves the sender receiving a Short Messaging Service (SMS) to confirm receipt from 432, which reads; “You have just sent N50 to 08021234567.”

While the third step is that the person receiving the transfer would also receive an SMS confirmation from 432 that will read:

“You have just received N50 from 08020000000.”

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UN endorses Nigeria e-govt model

The United Nations (UN), leading organ for global development, has endorsed the Nigerian model of electronic governance (e-governance) as a viable option for successful deployment of e-government across the world.

The endorsement was given at the recent UN organised International Conference for Electronic Governance (ICEGOV2007), which ended in China weekend.

Executive Vice Chairman, Nigeria eGovernment Strategies Limited (Negst), Dr. Olu Agunloye, who led the delegation to the meeting, informed that the UN was impressed with the public private partnership (PPP) model adopted by the country, particularly in the light of appreciable progress made in deploying e-government structure in Nigeria in recent times.

e-Government refers to government’s use of information technology to exchange information and services with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.

He stated that the conference provided opportunity for Nigeria to showcase how far it has gone in implementing the e-government initiative, share ideas and create relationship to fast track deployment of e-governance in the country.

Victor Ogunmakin, Director, Head of Service at the Presidency and a member of the Nigerian delegation to ICEGOV2007 said that the seven point agenda of the present administration is driven by IT.

According to him e-government is electronic administration of governance, capable of helping to bridge the digital divide and which Nigeria must speed up implementation, “so as not to be left behind in the comity of nations. Nigeria cannot move ahead unless

e-Government is rigorously implemented.”

He noted that e-Government is a top instrument for reforming e-governance, so it is expedient that the nation quickly put in place a framework for compliance.

A member of Nigerian delegation to the conference, Dr. Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, while speaking on the conference attended by over 59 countries with 27 coming the continent, said private sector participant in the ICEGOV2007 provided an avenue to bench what Nigeria was doing in terms of e-Government with what is happening globally.

He emphasised that full-scale implementation of e-Government in Nigeria would put the nation on equal level with developed countries from around the world.

He stressed the urgent need to spread the news of what e-government holds for the country and why e-Health, for instance, is a part of the conundrum, must be developed.

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Kukah sets up digital centre in Kakuri, partners Zinox

Renowned human rights activist, Rev. Father Matthew Hassan Kukah in partnership with leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in the country, Zinox Computers, launched a digital centre in Kakuri, a suburb of Kaduna State.

The digital centre would serve as a multipurpose and computer training centre is located at Kakuri Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Kaduna State and is equipped with 40 computers to facilitate training of youths, widows and professionals in the state.

Set up as an Internet café, the centre is intended to lay a strong foundation for the emergence of a dynamic, focused and purposeful Kaduna State built on the premise of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the multipurpose centre and commissioning of the Kukah Digital centre at the weekend, the founder, the Vicar General of the Arch Diocese of Kaduna and Parish Priest of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Kakuri, Fr. Kukah, noted that apart from bringing ICT closer to the parishioners in the state, the centre is meant to create harmony and arrest the frustration among youth in the community by engaging them positively.

He expressed the hope that by setting up an ultra modern resource centre that young people might then be able to get a slight view into the future and “see what challenges and hopes there are for a better tomorrow and turn away from the violence that has become a part of their lives.”

Fr. Kukah also said at the occasion graced by the Executive Governor of Kaduna, Mr. Namadi Sambo, and his deputy, Mr. Patrick Yakowa as well as Archbishop of Kaduna, His Grace Peter Y. Jatau that the internet facility would make it possible for the old and young to network with people of like minds in far and near places.

He explained that the complex, a multi-purpose centre would accommodate his vision to touch the lives of a cross section of the citizenry, citing for instance that it would be a centre for the retraining of widows, that most vulnerable section of the society.

“These widows would be encouraged to acquire new skills, possibly IT based, towards achieving a sustainable means of livelihood.

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Citizen journalism democratises multi-media technologies – Salawu

Head, Department of Media and Communications Studies, Ajayi Crowther University, Nigeria, Dr. Abiodun Salawu, has described citizen journalism as the democratisation of the multi-media technologies by the people and for the people.

Speaking at the just concluded third regional workshop on Medias and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) issues in West Africa held in Dakar, capital of Senegal, he was emphatic that the tide has changed in the modules of disseminating or receiving information.

The workshop which has its theme as ‘New technologies, new journalism and improved governance,’ and attracted participants from Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia, Cameroon, Namibia, South Africa, The Gambia, Togo, Canada, Guinea Conakry and Ivory Coast.

He also described citizen journalism as secular process of passing information in this age, saying that even the journalism training institutions need to wake up and ensure that they are up-to-date in the use of ICT in the profession.

“Senders of the message have become the receivers as well as interactional, thus not a one way communications any more,” Dr. Salawu declared, pointing out that there is a change of roles among citizens, hence citizen journalism avails a secular process in the way we distribution information and news particularly.

He also said that newspapers industry need to do is to restrategise but definitely they would not be extinct.

As much as we accept the democratic participation of citizens in neo-journalism, there is need to reposition by media

In citizen journalism, Dr. Salawu equally said that its horizontal in nature and receivers of information ought to be active receivers and should not be left in the hands of professionals.

He further identified lack of writing culture among West Africans especially where the ICT infrastructure are not readily available and affordable.

“Writing culture may hamper citizen journalism in developing economies like Nigeria,” he noted.

Although he expressed concern over what some protagonists have said would be the drawing line between citizen journalists and professional journalists, mostly now that everyone could in the actual sense practice journalism.

“My fear is that the theory of non-professionalism journalism may still drag down the spirit of professionalising journalism,” he warned.

Equally speaking to over 60 participants, the African Editor of a ‘citizen journalism’ aggregator, Global Voices, Mr. Ndesanjo Macha, said that citizen journalism has impacted greatly to the avalanche of information available today on the Internet and has given boost to information sharing among the peoples of the world.

This, he said, has been more evident in emergencies such as London bombing and collapsing of a bridge in one of the United States region, which were captured initially by mere citizens with their mobile camera phones before the journalists even learnt about it.

The likes of Cable Network (CNN) and BBC have introduced means of incorporating ‘citizen journalists’ news from their audience.

While calling on African media organisations to emulate this path, Mr. Macha stressed those citizen journalists rather than taking over the work of professional journalists, compliments themselves.

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I4J is novel – NITTA organisers

The organisers of the Nigeria Information Technology and Telecom Awards (NITTA-07) have described the Internet-for-Job (I4J) initiative of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) as a novel.

The organisers of NITTA-07, which is in its sixth year, IT & Telecom Digest stated in the citation of NIG president, Mr. Lanre Ajayi as the Information Technology (IT) Personality of the Year 2007, that the I4J initiative, was borne out of genuine concern over the usage of the Internet among Nigerian youths and was aimed at encouraging the use of Internet as a platform for job creation.

NITTA organisers also noted that while commendations poured in for this initiative, the man who has exhibited a consistency in character in the last nearly two decades sees this laudable move as the start of a revolution in the use of the Internet.

They pointed out that as the co-founder of NIG in 1995, and an electrical engineer, Mr. Ajayi, has so much going for him, mostly in a little over a year of his tenure as NIG president, adding that he had accomplished more than any of his predecessors, even as it would not be a surprise for those who know him.

Recently, concerned with the use Nigerian youths have put the Internet, Ajayi established the novel Internet for Jobs (I4J) initiative aimed at promoting the Internet as a platform for job creation,» the citation read, just as commendations are pouring in for this initiative, while the man behind it all has maintained consistency in character in the last nearly two decades, thus he sees this laudable move as the start of a revolution in the use of the Internet.

As said by the organisers, Ajayi has exhibited the same passion into every of his activities, encompassing his days at the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which lasted for 11 years, stressing that as a core member of NITEL’s Research and Development team, he has associated with a number of designs and devices which became the first set of patents held by NITEL, even as he remained the designer of the External Line Plant Monitoring Device; the anti-cable theft device, which was a response to the national menace of vandalisation of telecommunication cables.

In addition, Mr. Ajayi was quoted in the citation as a key player in the team that developed a Nigerian Digital Exchange known as ‘the Eagle project’ at a laboratory in the world famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States of America in 1990.

Mr. Ajayi’s leadership qualities could easily discovered, especially as seen in his contributions to the ISP Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) as the Vice-President and Vice-Chairman of African ISP Association (AfrISPA), just as he had served on the council of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) as the Chairman of Research and Statistics committee, Chairman of NIG Technical committee on the Nigeria Country code (.ng) Top level domain name. He was also the Chairman of ISPAN committee on the implementation of the Nigeria Internet Exchange Point (NIXP) to name a few. Married with children, Mr. Ajayi is NITTA 2007 IT Personality of the Year,» the organizers declared.

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Ekpiwhre commends Omatek e-Xpress

Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs. Grace Ekpiwhre has commended Omatek e-Xpress, saying it is an initiative capable of boosting IT penetration in the country.

Speaking after a working visit to Omatek factory in Opebi, last weekend, reiterating the essence for all Nigerians to own, at least, a Personal Computer by taking advantage of the Government Assisted Purchase Programme (GAPP) launched by the Federal Government as the Computer for All Nigerian Initiative (CANI), which Omatek is championing through e-Xpress.

She commended Omatek for aligning its existing computer consumer scheme called e-Xpress with CANi.

Champion Infotel recalled that Omatek e-Xpress computer consumer initiative, launched two years before CANI, has realized its own funding of N1.5 Billion each for about 10 states and N500 million each for about 10 universities.

According to her, she was impressed with the effort of Omatek in affording Nigerians to take advantage of this funding arrangement.

She commended the collaborating banks that are currently financing the initiative and called on other financial institutions to emulate them.

More exciting for her, she noted was the seeing first hand a Completely-Knocked-Down (CKD) factory, that is, not different from what she had seen in Asia, stressing that she was happy.

She affirmed that there was vast opportunity for Small and Medium Enterprises to spring up after seeing operating capacity of the Omatek factory, hence she commended the Omatek boss for creating a lot of job opportunity for the Nigerian youths and also for her effort at transferring technology to young Nigerians.

Furthermore, describing CANi as a veritable platform for computer ownership she asked all OEMS to collaborate with CANi now being coordinated by NITDA to make computer acquisition easier for all Nigerians. She called on all stakeholders and professional bodies to come together to move the industry forward.

Welcoming her, the chief executive, Omatek computers, Mrs. Florence Seriki, expressed confidence in the Minister’s ability to move the ICT industry to greater height while calling all to support the minister in her new office.

She was quick to request for the minister to help re-instate the 0% duty and ensure the sustenance of the policy on local patronage that was passed in the last administration. She explained how Omatek now purchases from the same main manufacturers like the foreign brands and the challenges of Large Quantity (MOQ) required from these high profile manufacturers.

She explained how for example Omatek buys an MOQ order of Motherboard of one 20ft container containing 6000 pieces, while a foreign brand would buy over 10 containers at a time from the same manufacturers and end up sending over 70 per cent back to Africa. This, thus creates price challenges and the need for Africans, especially Nigerians and Ghanaians to celebrate their own.

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ICANN shops for NomCom members

The Nominating Committee (NomCom) of the Internet Corporation for Assign Names and Numbers (ICANN), is shopping for six interested members of the Internet community to fill leadership positions in its board.

ICANN is an internationally organised, public benefit, non-profit corporation dedicated to: preserving the operational security and stability of the Internet; promoting competition; achieving broad representation of global Internet communities; and supporting the development of policies appropriate to its mission through bottom-up, consensus-based processes.

While it’s Nominating Committee (Nom Com) is an independent committee tasked with selecting a majority of the members of ICANN’s Board of Directors and other positions within ICANN’s Supporting Organisations.

In the request of statements of interest, ICANN seeks qualified candidates to assist in the organisation’s technical and policy coordination role.

A copy of the request made available to Champion Infotel, stated that interested individuals should submit a Statement-of-Interest to this year’s committee for the posts of two members of the ICANN Board of Directors, a member for the council of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO), and council of the Country-Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) respectively as well as two members of the At Large Advisory Committee (ALAC).

According to the request, individuals selected by the NomCom would have a unique opportunity to work with accomplished colleagues from around the globe, address the Internet’s intriguing technical coordination problems and policy development challenges with diverse functional, cultural, and geographic dimensions, and gain valuable insights and experience from working across boundaries of knowledge, responsibility and perspective.

Those selected will gain the satisfaction of making a valuable public service contribution towards the continued function and evolution of an essential global resource.

ICANN also said that considering the broad public interest, nominees would work to achieve the goals towards which the body is dedicated in order to facilitate the Internet’s critically important societal functions.

Currently board members who have been selected by the Nominating Committee include Harald Tveit Alvastrand, Susan Crawford, Roberto Gaetano, Steven Goldstein, Dennis Jennings, Rajasekhar Ramaraj, Njeri Rionge, and Jean-Jacques Subrenat.

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‘Nokia N82 is camera-centric’

Mobile handset manufacturer, Nokia, has launched four of its new multimedia products in the Nseries into the nation’s market, describing them as ‘what cameras have become.’

These included N95 8GB, N81 SD, N81 N-Gage and the N95 8GigaByte.

But singling out Nokia N82, the Product Manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Jude Omozogie, told Champion Infotel that the multimedia features in N82 is what cameras have become at this age of evolving Information and Communication Technology (ICT) where people what to be extremely mobile in all their actions.

Mr. Omozogie accompanied by the Area Manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Fady Khatib and Account Manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Femi Oshinlaja and Communications Manager, Mrs Ngozi Efe Anene, explained that Nokia N82, is the latest multimedia computer that has been optimized for photography, navigation and Internet connectivity.

“With the tools to discover the places and moments worth capturing, and the capabilities to capture and share them instantaneously, the Nokia N82 offers photography enthusiasts an enhanced camera experience,” he said.

According to him, users of Nokia N82 could discover, capture and share their discovery with families and friends through the multimedia features or online, describing it as ideal for modern media practitioners, specifically.

“The Nokia N82 enables users to explore surroundings and find your way with navigation and routing; document your adventures with the high quality imaging capabilities; and instantly share your experiences with one click upload to the web,” he said excitedly.

Mr. Omozogie added that N82 comes with grade A level of Global Positioning System (A-GPS), Map, 5 mega pixel camera, xenon flash, Carl Zeiss optics and internet connectivity.

In addition, he said that Nokia N82 incorporates all the multimedia computer features common to Nokia Nseries.

“Like its predecessor the Nokia N95, the Nokia N82 is the latest epitome of a truly converged device that is not one thing but is many,” he said.

Area Manager, Nokia Nigeria, Mr. Fady Khatib in his comment, noted that the evolution of camera capabilities in mobile devices has been fast-tracked over the past years.

“With the Nokia N82 we have reached such a superior level in image quality, speed and ease of use that not only does it outperform any other camera-phone in the market, but its also a very credible alternative for single purpose digital still cameras,” he declared.

Stressing that Nokia N82 equally allows users to navigate and discover new places, enjoy music, browse the web, play games, chat online and be part of the global web 2.0 community wherever they may be.

He emphasized that these features were made possible, courtesy of the wireless broadband connectivity, convergence and yet again increased performance, hence Nokia N82 is all any busy mobile executive needs in their pockets.

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Visafone enters market in style

Unified Access Service licensee, Visafone has entered into the nation’s communications with a style.

In a section with newsmen in Lagos, the leadership of Visafone including the Managing Director and chief executive, Mr. Ninan Thomas, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Vinod Shah, and Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Mr. Varadaraja Rao, assured to give competition a run for their money.

The session attended by Visafone strategic partners cum dealers, was tagged an ‘Evening with the CEO,’ saw to the unveiling of the new management’s strategies for the company and increase its market share in the country.

On Visafone’s emergence, Mr. Thomas pointed out that while Nigerians celebrate the revolution created by the telecommunications, they also have avalanche of challenges, adding that Visafone has come as solution provider, by changing the trend of things, especially in business of communication.

“We will offer the best in terms of Quality of Service (QoS), voice clarity, seamless connectivity, wide coverage, mobile, high speed data via Third Generation (3G) and a host of fantastic value added services,” he said.

He also noted that Visafone has invested heavily to ensure it stands out through a number of strategic acquisitions to help position the telco for a pan-Nigerian launch commercial launch billed for the New Year.

As said by him, these acquisitions already guaranteed the company almost 100,000 subscribers and coverage in 40 cities and 13 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Champion Infotel gathered that Mr. Thomas comes to Visafone with experience and expertise drawn from both finance and telecoms sector. For instance, after launching his career at BPL Telecom / Tata in 1989, he left in1996 to join Motorola as the Engineering Project Leader with multiple awards to show for it, mostly as the best managed project.

Mr. Thomas was later to move on to Motorola Philippines as Programme Manager for a joint venture with Nextel.

In addition, he returned to India in 2001 to join the executive team that built Reliance Infocom, one of the world’s largest mobile service providers. Before coming to Visafone, Ninan had a short stint as VP Operations at UT Starcoms, Chicago.

For Mr. Vinod Shah, a telecommunications engineer with varied and interesting career beginning from the telecommunications wing of the Indian Army where he served for over 21 years and rising to the rank of Colonel.

While his private sector career started in 1997 at Info Electronics Systems prior to his joining Tata Tele Services, a part of the US$22bn Tata Group, as Chief Technology Officer where he was in-charge of complete teams for planning, project management and operation of the network.

As for Mr. Varadaraja Rao who is not new in the nation’s telecom market having joined Visafone from Multilinks Limited, where he held the position of Chief Technical Officer with primary responsibility for operations and network rollout. Varadaraja was also responsible for international sales, marketing & brand promotion of turnkey telecom systems and services.

Even as Visafone, a wholly owned Nigerian telecommunications company is being promoted by foremost banker and chief executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia.

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Glo hits fair with rule & win promo

The second national operator (SNO), Globacom, has hit the on-going Port Harcourt International Trade fair with its recently introduced promotion, rule and win.

Officials of the telco, said that subscribers of Globacom, are having good time with the excitement being generated by the promo.

Our sources said that the prospect of winning in the Win & Rule Promo introduced days ago by the network to reward loyal subscribers is gathering moment.

“Many of them who have been visiting the Glo pavilion at the ongoing 2007 Port Harcourt International Trade Fair expressed optimism that they would win one of the choice cars on offer for subscribers by Globacom,” our sources said.

Champion Infotel, recalled that Globacom recently introduced the WIN & RULE promo dangling 500 cars for its loyal customers both for the existing and new subscribers would have the opportunity of winning their choice cars on offer.

“The cars include 200 Kia Rio, 150 Nissan Sunny, 100 Peugeot 307, 38 BMW 3 Series and 12 Mercedes C360,” official stated.

Stressing that all that is required is for the subscriber to recharge his or her Glo line between N500 and over N10,000 every two weeks to qualify for the draws for the cars.

Explaining that many of those who make enquiries was on the premise that the new promo would favour, even as they commended Globacom for introducing another customer reward package for the benefit of its subscribers nationwide.

Equally, Glo is dishing lots of gift items daily to those who pay a visit to its stand, including such as T-Shirts, Caps and Bandanas.

In addition, a daily promo is also on-going in which subscribers could win one camera handset and recharge cards worth thousands of Naira throughout the duration of the Fair.

Globacom is a wholly Nigeria company which began operation in the last four years and has been noted to be in forefront of empowering Nigerians to realize their fullest potentials by placing GSM services and other associative value adding services at their disposal at very affordable costs.

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Celtel takes 0708 to PH fair

LEADING Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) operator and Third Generation (3G) compliant, Celtel Nigeria, has taken its products and services to the ongoing third Port Harcourt International Trade Fair 2007.

Public Relations Manager at Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Emmanuel Otokhine, said that the telco stormed the fair with its new mobile access code or number, 0708, and a vast array of customer and purse friendly products as well as services, including the Celtel Family and Friends (Celtel FAF) tariff plan.

He quoted the General Manager, South South Region, at Celtel, Mr. Imeh James, as saying that throughout the fair, the telco would offer visitors the opportunity to purchase the products and services, which has made the company the mobile operator of choice in the market place.

According to Mr. James, visitors to the company’s stand who makes a purchase are also being offered the chance to win fantastic prizes through lucky dip competition.

The company said potential customers who desire to purchase the new number, 0708xxx number range, could do so at the fair.

“Other products and services such as Me2U or airtime transfer service, 0808xxx number range, Unity Tariff, Nigeria’s first and only flat GSM tariff plan, Celtel Payphone or Celtel Red phone, credit me, Mobile Office or “Email from Everywhere to Everywhere”, Toll free line, Celtel Access or Internet Access, and SME pack, are be available at the company’s stand.

He added that Celtel Family and Friends tariff plan is an inexpensive tariff service designed for every Celtel Prepaid customer, thus allowing Celtel customer to call the phone numbers of five numbers registered under the family and friends service at lower call rate.

He said that experts from Celtel are at the fair to assist customers in registering for family and friends free of charge.

Also, Celtel toll free line is a postpaid number designed for corporate organizations and Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which makes it possible for customers who call them not to be charged for the calls otherwise known as (called party pays) are available at the fair. As said by officials, the service enables organisations to increase and retain their customer base.

Another product on offer at the company’s stand is Celtel Mobile Office or an email solution, which enables the users to send email from everywhere to everywhere and to access their office Calendar, Contacts, and Email.

Celtel “Me2U” is airtime transfer service enables customers to share airtime (credit) on their Celtel lines with their friends, family members and business associates as frequently as they desire, 24 hours a day, irrespective of location.

Members of the public can also obtain information on Celtel Credit Me, a service that enables users of Celtel lines to prompt other Celtel customers to send them airtime either through Me2U or a recharge card or voucher.

James said Celtel staff will attend to customers queries as well as provide some other customer care services during the Fair. He urged those desiring to know more about Celtel products and services to also visit the company’s stand at the Fair.

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