wi-cam, a CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) Management and Administration tool, developed by students and graduates of KICS-UET using open-source technology, allows broadband companies, such as wi-tribe, to remotely configure and manage CPEs, while receiving instant notifications and access to live data. Not only does this result in an improved customer care experience, it also enables customers to continue enjoying seamless connectivity.

wi-tribe entered into a strategic public-private partnership with KICS-UET to conceive, develop and launch a fully funded research and development program, enabling the innovation of this breakthrough feature-rich management tool. With wi-cam, wi-tribe and UET jointly demonstrate that sourcing local development of critical customer service innovation is not only possible, but also essential to the proliferation of technical capabilities within Pakistan.

“At wi-tribe, we thrive on the potential of the Pakistani youth and are eager to foster innovative ideas that can elevate the local IT industry to international standards. With remote CPE management capabilities, providing real-time updates and support allows wi-tribe to stay focused on customer satisfaction”, said Dr. Tanveer-ul-Haq, Vice President Technical at wi-tribe Pakistan.

This is the first of many other locally developed business tools that will aid the industry in setting new global standards in customer care, operational efficacy and return on investment, while ensuring a long-term vision with public-private partnerships between academic institutions and the internet service industry.

“At KICS-UET, researchers are keen on capitalizing open source technologies and developing cost effective solutions for local telecom and IT industry. wi-cam is a product built with local talent and it has helped KICS-UET researchers better understand software needs of the telecom industry. With these leading steps we foresee significant growth in such collaborative arrangement in telecom industry in Pakistan”, said Dr. Waqar Mahmood, Director KICS-UET.

Lt. Gen. (R) Muhammad Akram Khan, Vice-Chancellor of UET, said “This is an achievement, not just for UET and wi-tribe, but for the entire telecom industry. KICS-UET is extremely proud of this successful collaboration with wi-tribe and looks forward to continuing the partnership.  wi-cam is innovation brought to life by Pakistani students and graduates, showcasing local capabilities.”

By significantly enhancing customer care, wi-cam has already begun to revolutionize customer experience and promises to do so for the industry at large.  Going ahead, wi-tribe is looking forward to continuing its contribution to the industry’s growth through such initiatives, especially those showcasing the technology-capable youth of Pakistan.

wi-tribe prepaid has been specifically designed for customers with varying internet requirements and who want to download endlessly while, at the same time, avoiding monthly bills.  This product is available to customers looking to pay as they use, with no monthly commitments. By-the-hour services were previously a success for dial-up internet, enabling more people to get online with no hassle. wi-tribe brings back the same flexibility today by introducing it to Pakistan’s broadband customers; each with higher utilization and more multimedia consumption than ever before. Available on all wi-tribe devices, prepaid comes with no volume limits and is ideal for personal use.

“As a service that provides ‘broadband by the hour’, wi-tribe prepaid promises to be a catalyst of change for the industry. We strongly believe in giving customers the easiest access, with no barriers to get started. By allowing customers to pay only for what they use, we are able to give them the flexibility to use the internet as and when desired, without any recurring charges,” said Ali Fahd, Director Marketing, wi-tribe Pakistan.

To find out more about wi-tribe prepaid, visit wi-tribe’s website (http://www.wi-tribe.pk/products-services/prepaid/) or call at 111-187-423. To order online, visit http://www.wi-tribe.pk/order-now/

Islamabad, 18^th of December, 2011: wi-tribe, Pakistan’s highest rated broadband company for customer satisfaction, celebrates with the people of Qatar on their National Day, recognizing the tremendous progress and achievements under the leadership of His Highness Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

While celebrating the auspicious occasion of Qatar’s 133^rd National Day, the CEO of wi-tribe, Mustafa Peracha said, “On behalf of wi-tribe Pakistan, I congratulate the people of Qatar and Qtel on your National Day. Qatar has risen to become a leader in scientific and technological development and a hub of educational and cultural advancement. Having won the bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, one of many recent milestones, Qatar shows immense promise for future expansion and development in the GCC region.”

Qatar and Pakistan share many valuable relations, of which one is wi-tribe Pakistan, a proud part of the Qatar Telecom family. Together, we celebrate this day in great honor and happiness, looking forward to continued prosperity.

wi-tribe’s distinctive elements include employing the best talent in the industry; with the ICAEW designation it furthers gives wi-tribe employees access to world’s leading information resources, technical guidance, advisory services and local member networks.

Speaking about the collaboration with ICAEW, wi-tribe Pakistan’s VP of Finance and Accounts, Mohsin Alim, said: “Being an ICAEW approved employer helps establish wi-tribe with optimal building blocks to continue leading the industry with promising career paths for Finance candidates. The company will now benefit from more informed decision-making, particularly by incorporating more employee retention practices.”

Commenting on the occasion, Justin West, Head of New Business Opportunities, ICAEW, said “ICAEW feels privileged to recognize wi-tribe Pakistan as an approved ICAEW employer whereby wi-tribe employees can fine-tune their business skills to go head-on in an increasingly competitive corporate environment. We are confident that our internationally acclaimed qualification will help wi-tribe employees excel in their specific business domain and eventually contribute to professional growth and greater profitability.”

Employees who will possess financial knowledge and guidance will be in a strong position to cater to wi-tribe’s business edge, coupled with better risk management strategies. More importantly, they can possess a competitive advantage with the support of a world-renown accountancy body.

]]> http://www.wi-tribe.pk/media-center/wi-tribe-becomes-icaew-approved-employer/feed/ 0 http://www.wi-tribe.pk/media-center/wi-tribe-introduces-pocket-modem/ http://www.wi-tribe.pk/media-center/wi-tribe-introduces-pocket-modem/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 05:08:38 +0000 maham http://www.wi-tribe.pk/?p=6524 November, 2011: With an aim to provide internet users the opportunity to access richer broadband and to further enhance their online experience, wi-tribe has launched the Pocket Modem, a convenient plug ‘n play device that allows users to connect to the internet from absolutely anywhere.

Through its easy-to-carry, portability feature, the Pocket Modem adds immense value to the experience of internet users. It also delivers a perfect solution with its attractive packages. Without the need for electricity, this USB powered device plugs right into laptops and PCs, giving users absolute flexibility to connect as and when needed. It comes equipped with a USB cable and is compatible with both Windows and Macs.

Speaking about the launch of the Pocket Modem, wi-tribe Pakistan’s Director of Marketing, Ali Fahd said: “We understand the evolving needs of today’s internet users. With this launch, we aim to provide users with a convenient, portable solution to instantly connect. wi-tribe customers can now enjoy always-on connectivity, without the fear of sudden or unexpected power failure”.

The Pocket Modem can be ordered by calling 111-187-423 or online through the wi-tribe website at a special introductory price of Rs.1,500, reduced from Rs.2,500. Alternatively, it is also available at all customer care centres and select retail partner locations in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Since it rolled out its infrastructure in the country in mid-2010, wi-tribe has quickly become a formidable force in the market of internet service providers (ISP) that had earlier been dominated by much bigger players such as the local telecom giant which leverages the strength of its massive infrastructure.

According to a recent independent survey, wi-tribe not only received a roaring welcome from local internet users, but also recognised as the best ISP in terms of customer satisfaction.

Business Recorder Research recently caught up with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mustafa Peracha to find out how the company has entered the big leagues, with a bang.

Customer is the king

“Competition before us has only been talking about technology, which is the lowest form of communication,” said Peracha, explaining that marketing campaigns dominated by mention of different kinds of technology used to provide internet services to clients are largely irrelevant to the average user.

“When you buy a car, do you really care about who made the pistons?” he questioned rhetorically. The Chief Executive contended that users are much more concerned about the quality of service they receive, explaining that “our communications are always centred on the uses, the benefits that customers derive from our services”.

Wi-tribe’s initial marketing campaign was driven by the slogan: “online with no line”. Peracha explained that this slogan was meant as a targeted communication that highlighted the benefits of plug and play over services offered by competitors.

Since then the company has changed its tagline to “create your own world”. The internet is endless and it is to each person: “what they want out of it”, he said adding that the communication is designed to encourage users to utilise the Company’s services to expand their own horizons and networks. “If we can give service better than our competitors, we will attract and retain customers,” he said.

Market Segmentation

Mustafa Peracha contended that until wi-tribe entered the market, internet service providers were not catering to customers’ changing requirements and typically offered only one or two different packages. “So what was happening was that a customer who wanted an entry-level package was being forced to pay for more, which is not good from a customer’s perspective.

“On the flip side, customers who were willing to buy more quality-focused packages for a higher price were being forced to compromise,” he said. The Chief Executive asserted that this meant the service providers were creating discontent among customers and “leaving money on the table” by not evolving products in line with the needs of their clientele.

On the contrary, wi-tribe has offered flexibility to users so that they purchase only what they use. “Not everyone needs unlimited downloads and endless internet access,” said Peracha. He insisted “while all the competition is clamouring about providing unlimited downloads, I can personally guarantee that a standard package meets the needs of 98 percent of the market.”

Offering details about the Company’s market segmentation strategy he revealed that the Company offers five separate “add on packages”, which can be used to obtain extra downloads or to “double the speed of your internet connection”.

Software as a Service

“We are the first operator to offer software as a service”, Mustafa Peracha proudly highlighted. Customers using the Company’s services can subscribe to parental control software, powered by Net Nanny that lets them block access to websites that are unsuitable for children. Similarly, customers can pay a monthly subscription to obtain an anti-virus powered by Norton.

“So far, people have relied on pirated software to install anti-virus and other software on their computers,” said Peracha pointing out that not only does this promote piracy, but also endangers users as pirated discs are often infected with viruses or provide obsolete versions of software.

“By subscribing to the service with us, customers get regular updates to the software, thus they are always better protected against emerging threats,” he said. “We also partnered with Microsoft for the launch of Internet Explorer 9 in Pakistan. This is a much more powerful web browser with in-built safety features and other options,” said Peracha.

Urging other ISPs to follow suit, he says “the focus must shift to products and services that make the internet relevant to Pakistanis”.

Reaching the masses

Peracha admits that internet accessibility is still in a nascent stage in the country, but he insisted that the picture is not entirely bleak. Citing PTA numbers that put the number of internet connections at about one million, he pointed out that out of a total of 30-35 million households in the country, about “30-40 percent are in lower socio-economic classes that are not particularly savvy with the use of such technology, leaving about 16-17 million households, where present penetration is about 1 million households,” he said.

“The first opportunity for ISPs lies in urban areas where there is still a significant proportion of untapped demand,” he said adding that ISPs must first ensure that the quality of services being offered to customers in urban centres is maintained before they target clientele outside these areas.

“When we look at the telcos, there is a tendency to base conclusions on its performance over the last seven years, when, in effect, the journey for telcos has spanned over about 15-17 years,” said Peracha. He added that “broadband in Pakistan is only 3-4 years’ old” suggesting that the future is bright for a booming industry.

USF: Result orientation needed

The Universal Service Fund (USF) was established by the government in 2007 to bridge the digital divide in Pakistan by spreading information and communication technology infrastructure to un-served and under-served areas. The USF has been in the limelight in recent weeks after media reports suggested that the government is considering diverting funds from this kitty towards the Benazir Income Support Programme, instead of spending them for their intended purpose.

While most major telecom providers have lashed out against any such prospects, the Chief Executive of wi-tribe felt that the arguments heard so far miss the real point. “Government should be focused on improving the overall communication infrastructure of the country and increasing the teledensity in the country,” said Peracha. “However, what needs to be debated is the kind of programme that needs to be undertaken to accomplish this and if there is a programme that was established for this purpose, then its results have to be evaluated on some scorecard,” said CEO, wi-tribe.

He adds if the programme is achieving the desired results, regardless of its benefit to telcos and other contributors, the programme should be continued. But, if the desired results are not being achieved, the programme should be revisited in favour of better alternatives.

About the company

wi-tribe is a subsidiary of Qatar Telecom (QTel). QTel embarked on a massive expansion plan about six years ago, under which it spread its internet services business to 18 countries. The commercial launch of wi-tribe was held on July 1, 2009; while the company completed the roll-out of its infrastructure by mid-2010. At present, the company is managed from within the country while the board of directors at QTel is present for oversight and convenes periodically to review the Company’s performance.

About Mustafa Peracha

The Chief Executive of wi-tribe brings more than 17 years of professional experience to the Company. Prior to this position he worked for Ernst and Young, General Motors, Gateway and Sabre in the United States; as well as at Mobilink in the capacity of vice-president, broadband and carrier division. He holds an MBA degree (Finance and Strategy) from the University of Chicago, along with a BS degree (Electrical Engineering) from the University of Michigan.

Published in Business Recorder, October 25th, 2011.

With an increased range of product offerings including add-ons and services, wi-tribe expands its network in order to reach customers in more ways, hence enabling them to utilize a complete range of amenities, all in one place. By visiting any of the wi-tribe care centers, customers can purchase new connections, pay bills, subscribe to add-ons and services, acquire service support, as well as attain account and package information on the spot. The recent introduction of new scratch card denominations also allows customers to pay their bills with greater flexibility. These services and more are also available at the new care center, located at the main Bahadurabad roundabout.

Speaking on the occasion, Customer Care Director, Umair Ahmed, said that “we are very pleased to launch our new care center in a well-known area of Karachi, allowing us to continue delivering the highest quality of products and services to the residents of Bahadurabad. With this in mind, we are closer to our aim of continuously providing the best services to our valuable customers.”

***ENDS***

About wi-tribe Pakistan:

wi-tribe launched its largest operations in Pakistan in July 2009, and is currently operating  in five regions; Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad.

wi-tribe is passionate about providing a unique and personalized customer care experience, teamed with instant connectivity and simplified service bundles and applications.

Backed by unrivalled experience, knowledge and ability, wi-tribe group, a Qtel Group company, was born in April 2007. The vast experience these world leaders bring to the table has fuelled the growth of this new venture, launching wi-tribe globally as part of Qtel’s 2020 vision.

Visit www.wi-tribe.pk for the latest news about our products and services.

Karachi, 4^th October, 2011: wi-tribe, Pakistan’s No.1 broadband company, takes the Silver Sponsorship for P@SHA ICT Awards (PICTA) 2011, now a second year in a row. wi-tribe and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) share a common vision of elevating Pakistan’s ICT industry to new heights, where it continues gaining recognition beyond borders. P@SHA ICT Awards have become the flagship event for Pakistan’s IT & ITES industry, recognizing and celebrating innovation within the country’s technology sector.

At this year’s event, scheduled for Thursday, 6^th October, 2011 in Karachi, wi-tribe will also broadcast the event live over the internet and provide free Wi-Fi for the guests and participants of the ICT Awards 2011. Twitter users can tweet and monitor event related chatter using hash-tag #PICTA.

Forging a long-binding relationship with the industry, wi-tribe is proud of the effort and energy invested by the P@SHA team, a recognizable force promoting Pakistan’s ICT sector that contains both young technologists and well-established corporations.

Speaking about the partnership, wi-tribe Pakistan’s CEO, Mustafa Peracha said, “For wi-tribe, partnering with P@SHA is a logical alliance. As an organization, wi-tribe is actively advocating Pakistan’s ICT sector by promoting broadband penetration; a tool proven to generate social and economic transformation across any country.  While P@SHA provides a platform for promoting, protecting and developing the software industry in Pakistan, wi-tribe is focused on creating endless possibilities by becoming a key enabler for an enriching internet experience.”

Commenting on the collaboration, P@SHA’s President, Jehan Ara said, “We are delighted that wi-tribe has once again shown its commitment for P@SHA ICT Awards 2011. wi-tribe has always shown tremendous zeal when it comes to making a positive contribution towards the industry’s development. We look forward to this year’s partnership and for their continued support of the ICT industry.”

At P@SHA ICT Awards 2011, nominations have been segregated in 18 different categories. Now in its 8th year, P@SHA ICT Awards aim to provide recognition to software and service applications that have been developed in Pakistan by providing companies an opportunity to gain local, regional and international exposure through on-going promotional activities. The event is meant to acknowledge creativity, innovation and excellence in the Pakistan’s Information and Communication Technologies sector.