Cassette to iPod Converter Helps ‘80s Kids Keep Their Tape Collection Alive

We all love new technology, but when the arrival of a new generation of hardware signals the end of another, it can be kind of sad.

Vinyl will always be considered classic, but VHS and audio cassettes have sadly gone the way of the dinosaurs, with MiniDiscs (remember them?), and maybe one day CDs, soon to follow.

While CD quality sound is universally recognised as being superior to MP3 music, and despite MiniDiscs still hanging on in Japan years after the west turned its back on them, highly compressed MP3 is fast becoming the format of choice for millions of people, meaning that more and more of our once-loved possessions are relegated to sitting on the shelf or in a desk drawer somewhere.

So what are we to do with those Backstreet Boys cassettes? What fate awaits forgotten Bon Jovi 

tapes that rattle around the glove-box of a car whose stereo no longer has a tape deck? Are we destined never again to hear their muffled warbles and grainy beats?

Help is at hand!

New York-based Hammacher Schlemmer has recently launched a novel device that allows the content of audio cassettes to be transferred to an iPod or iPhone as digital music.

The nifty new Cassette to iPod Converter resembles an old-school Walkman cassette player, but features an iPod docking station on its front. Complete with built-in content management software, users simply connect their chosen i-device to the unit, then hit the play button. As the music plays, it is fed into the iPod and, through the power of science and magic, converted into MP3 format and stored on the hard disk.

That’s right; your Donna Summer albums are saved! No longer will you have to surreptitiously slip your old cassette player into your backpack with iPod headphones plugged into it in an effort to feign being one of the pack cool.

Of course, this means that you may finally have to wave good-bye to those faithful cassette tapes once their contents have been converted into electronic space music format. But perhaps that’s not such a bad thing?

Personally speaking, vinyl is welcome to stay as long as it likes, but cassettes, with their crappy sound quality and propensity to unravel at random intervals causing machine/cat/tape-related chaos, can “do one”, as they used to say, along with mullet hair-cuts, rolled-up jacket sleeves and unintelligible Speak & Spell machines that scorn you for getting the answer wrong after you’ve pressed “repeat” twenty times in an effort to work out what the hell it’s asking you to spell…

PTCL Inaugurates One Stop Shop in Jehlum

Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) has inaugurated a revamped and remodelled One Stop Shop (OSS) in Jehlum Cantt. PTCL is currently remodelling its Flag Ship One Stop Shops all across Pakistan to bring an enhanced experience for its customers.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by PTCL Executive Vice President (EVP) Business  Zone North, Abdul Sattar Naeem;Executive Vice President (EVP) Customer Care, Kamran Malik; General Manager (GM) Consumer Sales,  Jawad Saleem, General Manager (GM) Customer Care HQ’s,  Naeem Siddiqui and Regional General Manager Rawalpindi Telecom Region, Zafar Shafiq as well as OSS staff attired in their smart uniforms.

“We believe in facilitating our customers with the latest telecommunications services at most affordable rates” said PTCL Executive Vice President (EVP) Business Zone North Abdul Sattar Naeem, while addressing the inauguration ceremony. “Our continued commitment to our valued customers will ensure PTCL leading role in the telecom industry of the country”

Widely recognized as the company’s public face, PTCL’s nation-wide 191 One-Stop Shops are facilitating customers in billing adjustments, fault rectification, new service requests, duplicate bills, billing instalments and payments all under one roof.

President WiMAX Forum Visits Pakistan to Help Govt Understand Industry Challenges

Declan Byrne, President of WiMAX forum, the global body that certifies and promotes the compatibility and interoperability of WiMAX products and services, recently visited Pakistan to meet with regulator and government officials to help them understand the challenges being faced by WiMAX operators in Pakistan.

Along with local partners, WiMAX forum has put immense efforts in streamlining the WiMAX businesses in Pakistan that have been undergoing stagnant growth after booming period few years ago.

Declan, while speaking with ProPakistani, explained that his visit to Pakistan is not only aimed at convincing the government in bringing more transparency in laws and market practices but also to encourage WiMAX investors who are apparently hesitant in putting more capital in their businesses lately.

Declan specifically mentioned that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will have to work in-line with WiMAX operators to offer level playing field to all broadband technologies. He explained that spectrum allocated for WiMAX in Pakistan is capping the performance and productivity of operators. In addition, he said, the spectrum used by incumbent that goes beyond its legal allowance is greatly hurting WiMAX and other broadband operators in Pakistan.

Declan told ProPakistani that WiMAX operators will have to evolve their business models to meet ever-changing market needs. He said that WiMAX operators can work on deploying WiFi hotspots, hundreds or even thousands of them, in metropolitans – on top of backhaul WiMAX technology – to start offering broadband service to end-users through WiFi channels.

Declan suggested that WiMAX operators can partner with cellular companies to form partnerships to offer broadband services to cross-network users, eventually to boost their revenues on current working ecosystem.

WiMAX President further proposed that WiMAX operators can even contract with each other to offer broadband roaming services to cross-operator users – making service availability (on WiMAX or WiFi) available to larger pool of customers in wider range of areas.

Without mentioning a timeline, Declan Byrne revealed to ProPakistani that WiMAX forum is working on new standards that will allow all sorts of devices, including smartphones, notebooks, tablets and others, to get connected with internet through WiMAX without CPEs. Declan said that once these new standards get live, somewhere around 2014, WiMAX operators will become strongest contestants for offering broadband services in developed and developing markets alike.

Declan appreciated Pakistani operators for deploying one of largest and first WiMAX network in the world. It maybe recalled that Naeem Zamindar, CEO Wateen Telecom, was recently included in Board of Directors at WiMAX forum.

Microsoft Pakistan Organizes the Innovative Education Forum

Microsoft Pakistan, hosted the Innovative Education Forum (IEF), bringing together several teachers from private, public and NGO adopted schools to bring forward their projects and be part of this productive day of project exhibitions, inspiring keynote presentations, professional learning and collaboration.

Amongst many innovative projects there were five short-listed projects presented by the teams on this occasion. The top teams decided by the jury comprising of three judges would be sent to Casablanca, Morocco on a Microsoft-sponsored trip to compete at the regional level of IEF Competition to be held in August.

Top three winners for the local finals were announced at the end of the event. Mr. Omer Eqbal from Roots School System got the first position, followed by Mr. Asif Khawaja from Daanish School and Ms. Munazza Butt from Roots School System.

Along with teachers from leading schools and colleges competing in the IEF Competition 2012, also attending were students from Daanish School, a project of the Government of Punjab, enabling the poorest sections of society to have access to quality education and enabling infrastructure.

Speaking at the occasion, Kamal Ahmed, Country General Manager, Microsoft Pakistan, said, “This is an excellent opportunity for these vibrant and enthusiastic teachers to showcase their expertise. Microsoft lauds their efforts to revolutionize teaching methods by using ICT as a carrier to engage their students and to enhance the effectiveness of education. They are applying ICT to the real world and equipping our children with the skills necessary to compete with the globally competitive work force.”

The IEF is part of Microsoft PIL (Partners In Learning) program, which works with governments and education leaders around the world at the national, state and local levels to deliver a portfolio of professional development, curricula, tools and resources designed to advance 21st-century teaching, learning and digital inclusion that improve learning outcomes for every student.

“Teachers are the greatest catalysts of development, capable of changing a nation’s mindset and steering the country to progress by working at the very grass root level. Forums like these are not only enlightening but also very inspiring, reminding us how valuable ICT as well as teachers are for a progressive society, said Ms. Tayyaba Noureen, one of the judges at the event.

Through supporting such events, Microsoft has furthered educational development in the country by leaps and bounds. Microsoft hosts such competitions each year in different countries, the idea being that today’s advancement in technology along with the imagination, passion and creativity, can light up a better future for the generations to come.

PTCL Sponsors Sports Day at a Local School

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Pakistan Telecommunications Company (PTCL) sponsored the sports day at Kainat Public School, Islamabad.


PTCL sponsored the event to spread awareness about importance of extracurricular and sporting activities amongst the youth. The event provided a tremendous opportunity to the youth to showcase their skills and talents through Football and Cricket Matches, Skits, Quiz shows and Art Competitions.


“Positive entertainment and sporting activities are imperative for the development of our youth,” said PTCL Executive Vice President (EVP) Business Zone North, Abdul Sattar Naeem. “PTCL is striving to create a better tomorrow for the country’s youth by connecting them with the international information highway.”


PTCL sees it as its corporate responsibility to support and participate in such events to harness the creative potential of the youth. Students, teachers and public visited PTCL stall where they experienced the latest offerings of PTCL through live demonstrations by highly trained PTCL staff at the occasion.


PTCL latest 3G EVO Wingle and other wireless products remained one of the highlights of the exhibition and generated tremendous interest.

PM Disapproves Sale of SIMs through Home Delivery, Ban on MNP Lifted [Updated]

Raja Pervez Ashraf, Prime Minister of Pakistan, has disapproved Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s November 13th directive, in which mobile operators were asked to not to sell new mobile connections at franchises, service centres or retailers; instead SIMs were to be dispatched to subscribers’ home addresses given on their CNICs.

Sources tell us that Prime Minister made this announcement after meeting the CEOs of all cellular companies today at Prime Minister house in Islamabad.

Sources tell ProPakistani that current market situation, notably the new SIM rules, ban on MNP and cellular suspension on religious and national occasions were discussed during the meeting.

Prime minister has reportedly agreed to withdraw all the directions that were issued in November 13th directive of PTA.

Initial information, that we are getting, suggests that cellular companies have agreed to deploy biometric solutions on their service centres, franchises and retailers to ensure customer verification through thumb impression before selling the SIMs.

Mobile companies will continue to sell SIM cards from their self owned and operated business centres as well as franchise centres after due verification from National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). However, the sale of SIMs from retail network shall remain suspended until the biometric devices are deployed at each retailer store.

It is learned that pictures of customers will also be stored in cellular companies’ database before issuance of SIMs.

Mobile phone companies are directed to deploy biometric solutions for customers’ verification with-in two month.

The Prime Minister also withdrew the earlier restriction imposed on mobile number portability (MNP) and said that the present arrangement of number portability would continue due to high integrity of data, adding that verification of IMEI numbers of handset should be ensured.

Reportedly, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf directed the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Information technology to immediately sit with Customs and other relevant authorities to streamline the import and local assembling of cellular handsets in the country and ensure that all handsets bear unique identification numbers(IMEI) and handsets without IMEI and duplicate IMEI be banned.

Those who attended the meeting include Prime Minister’s Advisor on IT, Dr. Basit Riaz, Secretary Interior Khawaja Siddique Akbar, Chairman PTA Mr Farooq Awan, Secretary IT and other senior officials.

Mobilink Unviels its Investment Plan for USD 1 Billion

Mobilink had yesterday announced its plans for investing USD 1 billion in Pakistan, details for which were unviled today in a statement issued by the operaotor.

Mobilink’s investment schedule, which was shared by Jo Lunder, Group CEO, VimpelCom with Raja Pervez Ashraf, Prime Minister of Pakistan in a meeting yesterday, includes introduction of 3G services by the telecom giant as soon as it is licensed in Pakistan.

“The investment on our mobile network is a continuation of Mobilink’s promise made at the start of 2012 to create a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s cellular environment. Mobilink will sustain its focus on infrastructure investment, increased coverage and great customer relationship management to provide our valued customers with the best cellular experience in Pakistan!”, highligted the Group CEO of VimpelCom, the parent company of Mobilink.

Ahmed Abou Doma, Group Chief Executive Officer of Orascom Telecom, added, “This strategic investment is part of our commitment to provide leading-edge, high-quality mobile broadband and voice services to our customers in Pakistan.”

It maybe recalled that Mobilink has announced the signing of a five year agreement with Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent for the design, purchase, deployment, and maintenance of state-of-the-art next-generation mobile network equipment.

Mobilink claims to have 36 million customers in 20,000 cities, towns and villages across Pakistan.

Mobilink has invested over USD 3.9 billion till date. The additional investment of USD 1 billion is part of VimpelCom’s aggressive plans to further consolidate its leadership position in Pakistan with the deployment of state-of-the-art next-generation mobile network equipment.

Google pakistan

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), authority responsible for taxing businesses and individuals in Pakistan, is seeking ways to tax internet giant Google, on the revenue generated through its business in Pakistan, reported The News citing unnamed sources.

It is said that FBR got the hint of taxing Google after it learned that Indian tax authorities slapped Google with a fine of 760 million Indian rupees or USD 13.8 million for evading taxes and misleading Indian authorities by under-reporting its revenues.

After getting the news from India, FBR chairman reportedly instructed the tax departments to identify the business activities of Google in Pakistan to bring it under the tax. From what we have heard, FBR is clueless on how to tax Google, as of now at least.

When we last checked with Google, it had said that tax on advertising revenues is deducted in respective courtiers where advertisers make payments for doing business with Google. For example, Google is not liable to pay tax to Pakistani authorities if someone buys Google ads from USA, as advertiser is already taxed in his/her country.

Google had agreed that local ad buying (from Pakistan) could be taxed, but its usually purchased through credit cards and doesn’t come on radar.

Experts opine that Google can be confined (by Pakistani Authorities) to deduct tax for all media buying with-in Pakistan at the time of purchase. Similarly, all adsense payments can be taxed at the time of issuance of payments to Pakistani publishers. This process of deducting tax from publishers and advertisers (at the time of transaction) is in practice in USA and European countries.

It is still unclear and disputed that revenues made through ad clicks that are generated from Pakistan are tax-able (under the head of income tax) or not. It is believed that Google pay taxes on gross income in its native country and hence if there is anything to be taxed in Pakistan or other countries that will impact its tax rate returned in USA. Which is seemingly hard to achieve.

According to media reports about Rs. 320 million were spent in online media from Pakistani advertisers during last fiscal year, 35 percent of which is shared by Google.

Experts say that taxing Google is very much possible but extremely hard. They say that Pakistani tax authorities will have to be vigilant and will have to come out of the box to tax a company like Google.

PTA

First time In the history of Pakistani Telecom Industry, mobile phone operators are not selling any new SIMs, re-issuing SIMs or porting customers through Mobile Number Portability today.

789 service is down as well.

Mobile phone operators told ProPakistani, just minutes ago, that they are waiting for notification from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to nullify its earlier directive, according to which mobile phone companies were asked to not to sell SIMs on franchises, service centres and at retail shops from December 1st, 2012 (i.e. today).

Furthermore, ban on MNP is still upheld because no notification has been issued by PTA, despite the clear announcement made by Raja Pervez Ashraf, the Prime Minister of Pakistan for lifting the ban on MNP and cancelling other SIM rules that were notified by PTA on November 13th, 2012.

Cellular companies said they are not selling anything on their service centres and franchises. They said that they aren’t communicated with any process for selling SIMs and hence they are clueless and are left without making new sales today. Cellular companies are also waiting for policy regarding the stock available at retail stores.

Mobile companies are hoping that PTA will issue notification today, after which they will start selling SIMs again.

PTA’s spokesperson wasn’t available for comment due to holiday today.

Industry experts were aggrieved to witness the situation, where PTA didn’t notify the cellular operators about cancellation of its earlier directive, despite very clear and loud orders issued by Prime Minister of Pakistan. They said, the immature behaviour from PTA is going to impact industry in many ways.

Mr. Rehman Malik, Minister Interior, decides not to give up against telecom Industry.

After yesterday’s announcement, Mr. Malik, to save face, is now claiming that Raja Pervez Ashraf, Prime Minister of Pakistan, has not scrapped his plans – rather he gave an extension of three months to cellular operators to straighten their acts.

It maybe recalled that Prime Minister had disapproved Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s November 13th directive, which were issued on advise of Interior Minister, including the sale of SIMs through courier services and ban on MNP.

Rehman Malik, on other hands, claims that Prime Minister just extended the deadline for cellular operators, on their request, and that his plans will become reality one day; something which was not communicated to CEOs (we have checked) or in the press release that was issued by Prime Minister house yesterday.

“Raja sahib is the chief executive of the country and he can take any decision but I am happy that he did not scrap the plan of Interior Ministry”

Rehman Malik

Mr. Malik didn’t attend yesterday’s meeting between CEOs of the cellular companies and the prime minister due to illness (or maybe out of embarrassment).

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