Cloud Computing: Digital divide may hit Nigeria

Despite being the fastest growing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) on the continent of Africa, Nigeria may be witnessing depletion as it has been revealed that most Nigerians resident in the country are ignorant of Cloud Computing, ITRealms Online can authoritatively report.

Broadly, Cloud Computing could be described as using of servers hosted on the Internet for computational purposes. Thus, Cloud Computing vendors build Internet-based accessible data centers and offer computing time to customers, which could be individual or corporate.  Typically, customers deploy virtualized Operating System (OS) images onto cloud vendor servers; more or less like offering computational time on the Internet.

An investigation carried out by ITRealms Online with emphasize on core Information Technology (IT) application among professionals has proved that even those, who should know like webmasters, computer technicians and Desktop Publishing Analysts were mostly ignorant of this new sensation in the computing world.

In other words, Nigeria may be in for another round of digital divide in its polity.
ITRealms Online investigations across the aforementioned group of ‘computing experts’ showed that they were totally unaware and its acceptability with in terms of adaptation and usage may really take some time to come in this part of the world.

At first when the question was posed to them, the reactions have been ‘what is it? Is it a brand new brand of PCs and what does it work?’

When asked if they have not heard about Cloud Computing, the answer was ‘Yes’ for those who took part in the exercise, numbering 15 ‘computing experts.’

Although the chief research officer and senior vice president at analyst firm, IDC, Mr. John Gantz, was recently quoted as saying economic crisis would force some companies to make technological changes they may not have made.

Some of these alternative technologies, experts listed to include software-as-a-service (SaaS), Open Source software and Cloud Computing, all of which go against the business models of the tech old guard or at best the proprietary methods.

IDC at a recent event in Lagos, gave boost to Cloud Computing evolution, saying that the usage of this platform has continued to rise. Stressing that its recent survey, revealed for instance, that 83.6 per cent of respondents agreed that it is easy and fast to deploy, 81.5 per cent opt for it because they can pay only for what they use (Pay-As-You-Use).

Additionally, IDC revealed that part of the benefits is that it affords companies basically to have a low monthly payments, because they are likely to experience less in-house IT staff and associated costs. While it offers the latest functionalities, encouraging more standardized IT, its sharing systems module makes information exchange easier.

On the other hand, some of those who are aware of Cloud Computing features but are still skeptical raise some challenging issues, comprising security, availability, performance, hard to integrate with in-house IT system because there is lack in the ability to customize, even as fear of it costing more in the future hovers.

Also, notable challenge issue was that it may prove difficult to bring back in-house; that is, if one is already using Cloud Computing and decides to change his or her mind, just as not enough major suppliers yet available in developing countries like Nigeria.

However, IDC outlined that major shift to application modernization and consolidation with a view to data center efficiencies and better IT business alignment.

“Greater focus on application rationalization, as a follow up to the notable investment in packaged applications of the past several years, particularly with companies with multiple African operations. Focus will be on the creation of unified application environments that support business flexibility and agility,” part of the report revealed.

SaaS, for instance, is expected to soar in countries like South Africa, where the large number of Small and Medium Business (SMB) pools on the back of decreasing operational costs.

Equally, experts said that this new evolution in computing technology that uses far-away servers for data storage and management, enable the device to use smaller and more efficient chips that consume less energy than standard computers.

The creation of awareness on this platform could aid large companies using computer, even as experts were emphatic that it could get more boost when the Internet access is available and accessible with ease.

They noted that lack of constant public electric power supply may muddle this dream up, hence leaving Nigeria again on ‘catch-up’ road, whilst South Africa.

The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) officials were silent on deployment and adaptation of Cloud Computing in the country, as at the time of going to the press.

Experts, pointed out that as the eco-systems shift online; new tools, new players and a new generation are growing, mostly with many vendors getting on board and building out comforting capabilities, the best for Nigerian IT professionals, especially the youths is to be involve in Cloud Computing so as not only to be viable, but also, to sustain their careers before it becomes too late.

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Etisalat, innovatively catching up with competition

As the fifth Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator in the country, Etisalat Nigeria, marks its one year of commercial launch, REMMY NWEKE, reports that the telecom operator is innovatively catching up with competition.

Having used some services of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators for about five years before the coming of Etisalat Nigeria into the market, it was like a nightmare for an energetic young professional with ‘travel’ as part of his details, Mr. Okaomee Idua, to miss his calls for anything.

It was not because he cannot call back or return calls information, but would not see miss calls on his phone, especially when the phones are switched off, while he hops from one airport to another or even travelling to some areas where the network of the operator is yet to cover optimally.

Although he bought Etisalat’s Subscriber Identification Module (SIM), when the company came up with its innovative way of allowing every potential customers’ to choose their mobile numbers of choice or available on the network, via its website, it was not co-incidental that Okaomee today has two GSM numbers relatively the same, with the difference being the individual operator’s code of identification like 0809, which Etisalat has since Nigerianised to mean 0809ija.

Therefore, Etisalat Nigeria, no doubt, has become associated as the innovative telecommunications company that adds value to the lives of its customers. Another value, for instance, by Etisalat was its recent launch of ‘Easynet suite of data services’ into the market, heralding yet another remarkable product bouquet from its stable.

Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar, told newsmen at the launch recently that subscribers on the network now have access to top quality Internet services combined with a vast portfolio of data plans and devices.

“This includes a branded Universal Serial Bus (USB) modem, software interface and a Data-only Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card,” he said, noting that Easynet is one of the superior services that will position Etisalat Nigeria as the go-to-shop for all mobile data requirements, meeting the customer needs with regards to price, convenience and usability.

He explained that Easynet’s data suite, for instance, offers a three-tiered plan to enable customers obtain monthly-prepaid subscriptions and use up to 3 Gegabytes (GB).

“With this plan, subscribers can check, send emails, visit their favourite websites, chat online seamlessly and much more,” he assured, stressing that the debut of Etisalat’s data service package, Easynet, should be seen as a reflection of the operator’s continuous drive to expand value offerings with a view to broadening the business and personal horizons of all Nigerians.

“At Etisalat, we are very committed to investing in quality products and services that will easily bring the world within reach of all Nigerians once they purchase any of our unique and innovative products,” Ammar said, pointing out that Easynet is the latest product from the Etisalat stable which comes with unique and easy to use features that guarantee immediate access to the service.

“In line with our avowed desire to be known for the simplicity of products and services, the Easynet service can be purchased and activated immediately at the point of sale,” he said. Installation, the CMO said, is user-friendly and seamless, even as subscribers could recharge the SIM from the comfort of their system and manage costs with the unique balance notification system, just as the product also comes with an auto renewal system, which removes the stress of revisiting the shop for service renewal.

Several industry analysts observed that with its latest introduction, Etisalat Nigeria has not only proved its position as the fastest growing mobile telecommunications company in the world, it has also demonstrated its power of innovation.

Before now, Etisalat has launched such other offers like Easy Starter and Easy Cliq, which no doubt, reaffirms its innovativeness in product evolution.

With the Easy Starter offer, Etisalat presents unique features such as receiver pays, home zone, missed call notification, Etisalat service menu and recharge among others. Uniquely, Nigerians telecom subscribers cannot forget Etisalat entrance in a haste, given the novelty they are now enjoying in home-zone, which gives them calls at a much cheaper rates than ever. This was followed by the missed call notification, which has been the dilemma of Nigeria telecom users before the debut of Etisalat.

On its Easy Cliq, Ammar said, is simply loaded with exciting features comprising Unlimited Short Message Service (SMS), free midnight calls, bonus on incoming calls, Facebook update service by SMS, free Multimedia Message Service (MMS), Free data downloads, One Cliq-One Tune, Cliq Ring Back Tune and Talk’n’Share.

To a good number of Nigerian youths, and those youth at heart, the most exciting product on Etisalat has been the Facebook update service via SMS. Thus enabling them to know who is online or may have commented on their Facebook walls, so as to know when to login to follow up or something to be attended to later.

Currently standing at the 140th position among Financial Times’ top 500 corporations in the world, Etisalat is the largest telecommunication services provider in Africa and the Middle East with its growing clientele aggregated to be at about 85 million subscribers across Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Despite the fact that at inception or better still when Etisalat entered the Nigeria market through the Emerging Market Telecommunications Services (EMTS), it was awashed with the question on most lips in Nigeria being whether Etisalat would ever gain some subscribers let alone catching up.

Remarkably, the last one year of its commercial operation may have given some insight into where the company is going and its determination to make inroads, expanding network coverage up north, a terrain with its own share of lack of infrastructure network.

Then debut the N245million promotion (9jilions) and currently leaving over 5000 subscribers winning mobile phones in the Win-a-phone promo at various zones nationwide in addition to the millionaires that have emerged in the Etisalat 9jilion promo. The promo has been touted to be the best in terms of rewards to subscribers.

Interestingly, Etisalat’s One9ja Game show have seen several millionaires emerging with the likes of Mrs Amaka Ezendu going home with N2.5m, followed by Samuel Chukwudi, Ernest Ogbemudia, Glory Eiwone and Ilozulike Chimezie, each winning N100,000 respectively, while Ejoke Aisire, Okonkwo Blessing and Esther Ofefagha went home with one million naira each, with some of the consolation prize winners of N50,000 went to Bobi Zion Onoriode, Roselyn Ogbemo, Henry Ijeoma, Ese Onojetah, Odjus Utuyorume, to name a few.

Director, Segments and Marketing Strategy, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms Seki Akande, had said at the event that Etisalat customers are the heart of its business. “With this promo, we are not only rewarding our old and new subscribers, we are also giving every Nigerian an opportunity to experience our world class products and services, built from 33 years of operation in different climes. The 9jillions promotion represents the biggest cash prize winning in Africa and thus serves as a veritable platform to reach out to our subscribers,” Akande said.

The Director revealed that about 5,000 high-end mobile phones were given to lucky subscribers during the first phase of the promotion, which ended recently and explained further that the regional one9ja game shows which held in more cities in the coming weeks before the last phase, whereas the grand finale would hold this month, October, where one lucky subscriber will walk away with the grand prize of one million dollars.

“All a new or existing subscriber has to do is use up to N1,000 in a month, then send his location and name to #5123 to qualify for a chance to participate in the grand finale,”she said.

Like a promise made by its current chief executive officer, Mr. Steven Evans that coverage of Nigeria is a key to this year’s expansion plan, Etisalat seems to have met this self set goal. It was not unfounded to gather that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) gave pass mark to the fifth GSM operator in the country for leading the pack in delivering quality service to Nigerians.

The National Assembly was not left out as both the Senate and House Committees on Communications have since attested to this fact, while urging for sustenance. Both committees led by their chairmen, Chief Sylverster Anyanwu and Mr. Dave Salako, were impressed as in the expansion strategies and what have been achieved.

All this may have encouraged the Director, Brand Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Yinka Akande to have confided in ITRealms Online at the launch of the much celebrated commercial launch in Lagos, last year that they are not deterred but determined to deliver on promises.

For him, there is nothing like ‘A Mission Impossible’ for Etisalat, because it has resolute men and women who want the best of innovative services for the Nigerian telecommunication market. In other words, the flame of catch up with the other mobile operators is gathering moment as its subscribers have continued to soar.

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ICANN sacks another 3 registrars over non-renewal

Just two months after the global coordinating internet agency, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced the sacking of three registrars over breach of the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) of May 2001, another three have followed.

According to ICANN, Messrs Mouzz Interactive Inc of United Arab Emirates; Naugus Limited of 70 Washington Street and BP Holdings Group of Astoria, New York have yet been sacked.

ICANN in a public statement made available to ITRealms Online disclosed that Mouzz Interactive was fired as accredited registrar for non-renewal of its Registrar
Accreditation Agreement (RAA) of May 2001, which indicated that Mouzz registrar
license has not been renewed.

And in pursuant of Section 3.9 of the RAA, which requires registrars to timely pay accreditation fees to ICANN consisting of yearly and variable fees.

Director, Contractual Compliance at ICANN, Stacy Burnette stated in a letter dated October 9, 2009 that “Mouzz Interactive currently owes ICANN $21,175.01 in past due accreditation fees.”

Burnette noted that notices regarding Mouzz Interactive’s past due accreditation fees, including detailed customer statements were transmitted to the firm’s office on several occasions over the past years.

“On April 20, 2009, ICANN sent you, via courier, a Notice of Breach of Registrar Accreditation Agreement for failure to pay accreditation fees along with a detailed customer statement reflecting $18,984.37 in past due accreditation fees. Mouzz Interactive failed t cure this breach in the time period allowed by the RAA,” part of the sack letter addressed to Mr. Imran Faziani, read.

Also, ICANN said that unless a renewal is performed on or before November 20, 5pm, based on outstanding, it does not intend to renew Mouzz, for instance.

For Messrs Naugus Limited, a letter was directed to Mr. Russ Goodwin in which ICANN stated the failure by the firm to escrow the generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) registration data in pursuant of Section 3.6 of the RAA.

The company was given until October 20, 2009 to pay up or stand disqualified to operate as accredited registrar, in accordance with Registrar Data Escrow Specifications document posted at http://www.icann.org/rde/rde-specis-09nov07.pdf, of which Naugus Limited has been notified on July 7, 2008 and August 26, 2009 respectively via electronic mail of the breach described aforementioned.

Equally the notice of expiration of registrar accreditation agreement and non-renewal of accreditation issued to BP Holdings Group and addressed to Mr. Michael Bahlitzanakis, was for the data escrow agreement failure.

Burnette maintained that ICANN’s staff on March 1, 2008 put a call through BP Holdings and was able to speak with Mr. John Berryhill, who promised to take action by depositing relevant data as required with Iron Mountain Intellectual Property Management Inc.

“To date, no deposits were made in furtherance of BP Holdings’ escrow obligation,” part of the sack letter read.

ITRealms Online recalled that two months ago, ICANN had announced the fall of three registrars to meet RAA deal including South America Domains Ltd doing business as namefrog.com, Simply Named Inc (SimplyNamed.com) and Tahoe Domains Inc have not had their RAA renewed upon expiration for failure to comply with the requirements of the agreement.

According to ICANN, notice to this effect dated July 30, 2009 tagged ‘Non-renewal of Registrar Accreditation Agreement’ which was dispatched to the trio via facsimile, courier and electronic mail.

A copy of the letter addressed to the chief executive officers of the aforementioned companies made available to ITRealms Online, read in part that their agreement with ICANN has elapsed due to the breach and inability to renew same.

The sack, ICANN explained was as a failure to provide a working Whois service in pursuant to and compliant with Section 3.3 of RAA.

The three-page notice signed by ICANN’s Director, Contractual Compliance, Stacy Burnette and sent to the affected three companies, the internet coordinating agency, stated that Section 5.4 of the RAA provide or apply upon expiration for renewal of accreditation in compliance with its obligations under the RAA.

Based on failure to comply with Sections 3.3 of the RAA, ICANN said it does not intend to renew these registrars upon its expiration on August 5, 2009.
ICANN noted that failure to provide public access to data on registered names in pursuant to Section 3.3 of the RAA.

Section 3.3.1 of the RAA, ICANN said requires registrars “provide an interactive web page and a port 43 Whois service providing free public query-based access to up-to-date data concerning all active registered names sponsored by registrar for each Top Level Domain (TLD) in which it is accredited.”

ICANN said that such data requiring updated from registrars include the name of the registered name, the names of the primary nameserver and secondary nameserver(s) for the registered name; the identity of registrar which may be provided through registrar’s website and the original creation date of the registration.

In addition, ICANN said it expects to get update on the expiration date of the registration, the name and postal address of the registered name holder, the name, postal address, email address, voice telephone number and where available, fax number of the technical contact for the registered name.

Burnette recalled that on July 17, 2009, a reminder was sent to the affected registrars by email and fax that Whois service was not compliant with RAA requirements.

“Specifically, your registrar’s Whois service did not provide any Whois data when ICANN staff attempted to access Whois data regarding domain names sponsored by ‘you’,” part of the letter read.

Pointing out that “You were requested to correct this contract violation immediately and report back to ICANN staff when the violation was corrected. ICANN staff never received a response from you or anyone representing ‘you’ regarding this matter.”

ICANN said it never received any response from the affected registrars as at the date of the notice.

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Omatek excites visitors @ Telecom World

Top brand of Nigerian computer manufacturers, Omatek Computers Plc, excited visitors at the recently concluded Telecom World organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Omatek which excited its world-class products assumed the toast of visitors to the Nigerian Pavilion at the exhibition stand at Palexpo, Geneva.

As said by the Group Managing Director, Omatek, Mrs. Florence Seriki, said that many visitors were thrilled with the array of her firm’s products on display at the exhibition, especially the Omatek handtop pc, which is the smallest desktop in the world, the Omatek home entertainment products and the Omatek power products.

“Omatek stand at the Nigerian Pavilion was a bee-hive of activities during the 5-day exhibition as visitors,” she declared, noting that VIP’s and other guests visited and purchased various Omatek products.

She listed some of the prominent visitors to the Omatek stand to include the Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland and the United Nations, Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi, the Hon Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, and South African Minister of Communications among others.

She said the visitors were full of commendations for Omatek for being the only computer company of African origin at the ITU Telecom World 2009.

“Many of the visitors took advantage of Omatek’s presence at the exhibition to sign on as channel partners in other African and Francophone countries,” he said.

Some of Omatek’s novel initiatives also caught the attention of many, especially the Omatek e-learning initiative which is being touted for a rural development programme in some African countries.

In the same vein, the International Telecommunications Union has shown very keen interest in the Omatek handtop PC.

Speaking at the event, ITU secretary- general, Dr. Hamadoun Toure said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has made huge progress since the commencement of ITU Telecom World six years ago in Geneva. He urged governments around the world, business and youth leaders to collectively harness the power of ICT to proffer solutions to some of the world’s challenges.

At the event, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon launched the “Connect a School, Connect a Community” project to support countries worldwide to connect all schools to broadband internet services by 2015.

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Nigerians in diaspora back Digital Sense ‘09

Nigerian Information Technology (IT) professionals in diaspora have given their support to the Nigeria Digital Sense forum, which holds in Lagos in a fortnight by applauding the event with theme; Internet Governance; Creating opportunities for all Nigerians.
Those who expressed support for the Nigeria Digital Sense forum, at the weekend, included a former Chief Executive officer of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Dr. Ola Ogunfemi and Mrs. Utchay Okoli, from United States (US) and United Kingdom (US) respectively.

According to him, the forum is commendable and deserves every support from Nigerians including those in diaspora and that is why he has elected to make the event from the United States where he is resident.

And for Mrs. Okoli a postgraduate of one of the UK leading universities, said that Nigeria, especially the Internet community needs a vision driven engagement like the one DSA has come up with.

She applauded DSA for coming up with this initiative, stressing that it would definitely spur Nigeria further in scheme of Internet engagements.

In her reaction to the news, the Executive Director, Digital Sense Africa (DSA), the organizers of the event, Mrs. Nkemdilim Umah-Nweke said that the Nigeria Digital Sense forum was born out of the desire to create more awareness on values embedded on the Internet and how growing Nigerians Internet public could attest to its goodness.

DSA, she said, is elated with the support given so far by members of Nigerian IT professionals in diaspora and promised that her organization would continue to do Nigeria proud in their own little ways.

She, further said, the era of worrying too much over the few bad elements in the society who try to create bad impression of Nigeria and Nigerians, insisting that by tapping on the positive opportunities on the internet, Nigerians could counter such bad images.

This, she noted, could only be possible when the large number of people know how and where to go so as to make their Internet access worth paying for, especially at this period of global economic meltdown.

She expressed optimism on the great opportunities that Nigeria Digital Sense forum would offer participants and enjoined Nigerians to troop to the Golden Gate venue of the event on Thursday, November 5, especially when the entry is free as in ‘FREE’.

Also she recollected that the Executive chairman of the pioneer Internet Service Provider in the country, Linkserve Limited, Chief Chima Onyekwere, would preside at the Nigeria Digital Sense forum in Lagos.

She emphasized on the fact that there is need for Nigeria’s influence to be felt at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), scheduled to hold in Egypt, later next month.

In addition, she said Onyekwere’s choice and acceptance to preside at the Nigeria Digital Sense forum would further reconfirm his position as chieftain of the Nigerian Internet community.

Earlier, Digital Sense Africa, she pointed had received endorsement from the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Internet eXchange Point Nigeria (IXPN), the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) to name a few.

Digital Sense Africa is an initiative of Remnek Kommunications Ventures, a Lagos-based Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-driven analytical entity.

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Glo unveils SelfCare voice response in local languages

The second national operator, Globacom has introduced a new Value Added Service called Self Care service.

This, the SNO said, enables subscribers to access information about the network’s services via the telephone which is now available in local major Nigerian languages.

Director, Customer Care, Ms Maria Svensson, stated that the service can now be accessed in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages.

The Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service, she said, is the first of offer in the market, gives subscribers the opportunity of learning about the company and its activities without going to the website or calling the Glo Call Centre on 121 or 200 to speak with a Customer Care Representative.

Through the offer, customers can dial in and listen to basic static information on Glo products and services including its rich bouquet of value added services, promotional offers, SIM Replacement and Special Numbers, among other things.

“Our customers can now enjoy the service in English and Nigerian languages by dialing 500 or 5001 for English language, 5002 for Yoruba, 5003 for Hausa and 5004 for Igbo,” Ms Svensson said.

She explained that the service was introduced in the local languages to afford those not comfortable with English the opportunity to also enjoy its benefits.

“When we launched the service a month ago, we promised to beef it up with additional offers. The local language option is one such offer. We kept our promise to introduce this a few weeks after launch. We also plan other features such as information on Account Balance enquiry,” she said.

Ms Svensson restated that the Glo IVR service eliminates waiting time on the Call Centre lines and provides an option to people who cannot access the website due to lack of internet access. The service is also offered free of charge.

Globacom’s Customer Care Department compares with the best in the world. It is equipped with the latest technology and is manned by well trained and highly motivated staff.

The department is currently being expanded and will on completion of the project be the largest Customer Care centre in Africa.

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Momentum soars for Multi-Link independence promo

Momentum is soaring for the Multi-Links Telkom’s independence promo, recently introduced, ITRealms Online confirmed at the weekend.

According to the mobile company, all Multi-Links Telkom’s customers and prospective subscribers are to enjoy N49 free airtime in commemoration of Nigeria’s 49th Independent anniversary which commenced nationwide on 1st October 2009.

Tagged Independent Payback Promo, Multi-Links Telkom said it’s giving back for free a whopping N49 (24.5 per cent) value on every N200 scratch card purchased and loaded by its subscribers.

Also the company said the promo would run for 49 days in tandem with the 49 years of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation.

The chief Corporate Affairs Officer (CCAO), Multi-Links Telkom, Mrs. Ijeoma Abazie, said that the offer of N49 free airtime is Multi-Links Telkom’s own way of felicitating with the people and government of Nigeria on the milestone attainment.

Equally, she said that the 49th anniversary of Nigeria’s independent is a significant journey in the life of a nation being just a year to its golden anniversary.

In addition to the N49 free airtime, all Multi-Links Telkom customers and prospective subscribers will also be enjoying for free other value added services.

These, she listed to include free call forwarding, three-way call, call transfer and call waiting.

Abazie further said, Nigeria and its people deserved all the accolades at this occasion of its independent celebration having remained one indivisible entity in spite of the twists and turns on its road to clocking 49 years old post independent as a nation.

The CCAO, Multi-Links Telkom noted that with the call forwarding, Multi-Links Telkom customers can forward their mobile or fixed numbers to another line for free.

She explained further the call forwarding service would is activated when there is no response (answer) to the calling party.

“This service would also be triggered when the subscriber phone is switched off or
when the subscriber is out of the coverage area,” she said, pointing out that the three-way calling service allows three parties to hold three-way voice conversations on the network for free, while the call transfer is a service that allows Multi-Links Telkom’s subscribers to connect two parties together to have a conversation.

The call waiting service, according to her, is a default feature enabling a Multi-Links Telkom subscriber on a call to switch to another in-coming call while the other call is on hold.

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