Thursday, March 14, 2013

Andy Rubin Calls it a Day as Android Chief

Andy Rubin Andy Rubin Calls it a Day as Android ChiefAndy Rubin, the guy in charge of Google’s Android operating system will finally step down from his post after a long, fruitful period of 8 years. He will be replaced by Sundar Pichai who has already worked on the Chrome browser and Chrome OS among several other things.
Rubin is the person behind the enormous success of the biggest smartphone operating system on the planet and has worked with a number of tech giants including Apple and Carl Zeiss.
The announcement was made by Google CEO Larry Page in the official Google Blog. "Sergey and I first heard about Android back in 2004", Page writes, "when Andy Rubin came to visit us at Google. He believed that aligning standards around an open-source operating system would drive innovation across the mobile industry. Most people thought he was nuts. But his insight immediately struck a chord because at the time it was extremely painful developing services for mobile devices".
He isn’t going out of the picture though. "Having exceeded even the crazy ambitious goals we dreamed of for Android — and with a really strong leadership team in place — Andy’s decided it’s time to hand over the reins and start a new chapter at Google. Andy, more moonshots please!" Page is obviously hinting at a new position for Rubin in the future.
Android was founded by Rubin and his 2 other colleagues in 2003. It encountered a series of financial troubles until Google bought it in 2005, bringing Rubin to Google. Success came quickly without breaking records. Praises starting coming by the end of the last decade as Google started the use of new technologies in their phones and also with the launch of their own ‘Nexus’ phones. As of now, 750 million devices run Android worldwide and 25 billion apps have been downloaded from the Play Store – the Android Market Place – so far.
Moving forward Larry Page is optimistic about the new chief of the Android department. "Going forward, Sundar Pichai will lead Android, in addition to his existing work with Chrome and Apps." Page writes. "Sundar has a talent for creating products that are technically excellent yet easy to use—and he loves a big bet. Take Chrome, for example. In 2008, people asked whether the world really needed another browser. Today Chrome has hundreds of millions of happy users and is growing fast thanks to its speed, simplicity and security. So while Andy’s a really hard act to follow, I know Sundar will do a tremendous job doubling down on Android as we work to push the ecosystem forward."
One thing which has always been a characteristic of Rubin’s work is his innovation and taste. Now that he has left Android, it will be interesting to see which way he will go from now onwards and what wonders will he be able to achieve from there.

Intel Pakistan Celebrates Women Day with Women in Media

Nezihe Hussain Gazala Fasih Sana Saleem Jehan Ara Asma Aziz and Salma Jafri 2 thumb Intel Pakistan Celebrates Women Day with Women in MediaIntel Pakistan, in collaboration with Karachi Press Club, celebrated International Women’s Day with women in media. The event titled ‘Intel Celebrates Women’ was held at Karachi Press Club and included a panel of leading women achievers, Jehan Ara (President P@SHA and Bolo Bhi), Nezihe Hussain (Owner, SWOT), Salma Jafri (Content Marketer, Social Media Trainer and Writer) and Sana Saleem. The program is a stepping stone for the National Digital Literacy Mission, an initiative by Intel Pakistan which aims to bring affordable computing and connectivity to the masses.
Widely attended by media women in Karachi, the event focused on digital literacy, problem-solving and collaboration skills for professional and personal growth of women in media. In celebration of the International Women’s Day, various programs were also highlighted which have been implemented in Pakistan to equip girls and women with digital literacy skills in remote areas of the country. Intel believes that education is a fundamental right for everyone and has worked for decades to improve education around the world.
It also recognizes the major role technology plays as both a bridge and an accelerator, in not only improving the quality of education, but also improving access to education. Inspirational stories of women who have benefitted from programs like Intel Easy Steps , Intel Teach and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair which are making a difference in the community, were also shared with the audience. The main aim of these programs is to empower girls with the tools, resources and opportunities they need to succeed. Every year, Intel invests more than $100 million in corporate contributions around the world in areas such as education.
Through access to technology, scholarships and community learning programs, Intel provides girls and women with opportunities for quality education, new job skills and personal growth.  Intel’s global partnerships and programs emphasize technology and digital literacy to accelerate change – improving lives, enabling innovation and transforming economies.
Speaking at the event, Asma Aziz, PR & Marketing Manager, Intel Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka said, “At Intel, we will continue our decades-long commitment to education as a means to accelerate change—improving lives, enabling innovation and transforming economies. We seek innovative approaches that support Intel’s vision to create and extend computing technology to connect and enrich the lives of every person on earth. In a developing country like Pakistan when women are empowered with technological tools, resources and opportunities to learn, they can not only transform their lives but also help to improves lives of everyone they touch”.
The interactive session covered a wide range of topics such as understanding components of a PC, browsing the internet, chatting, sending emails and how the computer can be used to search for relevant information for news updates and articles. Additionally, the session discussed the importance of new social media sites to make more meaningful and quality connections for professional growth. Audience got an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions from Intel representative & panellists.

SpeedCast Partners with Supernet and Comtech to Deliver Cellular Backhaul Services in Pakistan

image SpeedCast Partners with Supernet and Comtech to Deliver Cellular Backhaul Services in PakistanSpeedCast, Asia’s leading satellite telecommunications service provider, together with partner Supernet, today announced the award of two multi-year contracts to provide their CelCast™ cellular backhaul service for more than 30 sites in Pakistan. SpeedCast and Supernet selected Comtech EF Data, the global leader in satellite bandwidth efficiency and link optimization, and leveraged their market-leading modems to deliver a highly optimized and efficient cellular backhaul solution for their customers.
SpeedCast and Supernet partnered to deliver a high quality GSM backhaul network in Pakistan, which is now utilized by two of the leading GSM service providers to extend their reach in the mountainous northern areas and far flung remote areas in the south of Pakistan.
Cellular backhaul projects are substantially more complex than basic IP networks, because of the real-time nature of the voice and data traffic. Network implementation was particularly challenging for 20 of the sites, because it involved stringent implementation time-lines and the requirement of minimum outage during the change over from the incumbent service providers to the Supernet and SpeedCast network. Moreover, the operators have strict service level agreements for performance, to guarantee a high level of quality for their users.
“Cellular operators are increasingly outsourcing their satellite-based cellular backhaul requirements today. We are pleased to have partnered with Supernet to deliver our cellular backhaul service in Pakistan,” stated Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO of SpeedCast. “Supernet is an experienced partner with a strong local presence, who understands the requirements of such demanding networks.”
"These projects are a welcome addition to our rich portfolio of GSM backhaul over satellite service in Pakistan. We are pleased to be working with SpeedCast and Comtech EF Data to deliver bandwidth efficiencies and cost-effective expansion options for our existing and new customers. These recent contracts are a testament to the quality and reliability of our service,” stated Hamid Nawaz, COO of Supernet. “It is rewarding to partner with a leader in Asia to deliver a compelling solution for customers in Pakistan and surrounding regions.”
SpeedCast’s CelCast™ product is a cellular traffic backhaul solution that enables mobile operators to expand their 2G or 3G coverage in a rapid and cost-effective manner. This managed service allows cellular operators to deliver service to remote and hard-to-reach areas, while minimizing their capital expenditure and avoiding significant increases in their operating expenditures. SpeedCast’s CelCast™ is deployed and in service in multiple countries throughout Asia and the Middle East.
Comtech EF Data’s CDM-625 Advanced Satellite Modem combines advanced forward error correction with DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier® bandwidth compression for maximum savings under all conditions. DoubleTalk® Carrier-in-Carrier®, based on Raytheon Applied Signal Technology’s patented "Adaptive Cancellation" technology, allows transmit and receive carriers of a duplex link to share the same transponder space. The combination of advanced technologies enables users to minimize OPEX/CAPEX and maximize throughput/availability without using additional transponder resources. The CX-U Series brings together access device and cellular backhaul traffic optimization, offering a variety of interfaces and transmission options.

AbacusConsulting Sponsors Mobile Commerce Conference in Karachi

mcommerce AbacusConsulting Sponsors Mobile Commerce Conference in KarachiAbacusConsulting sponsored the 6th International Mobile Commerce Conference 2013 in collaboration with its technology partner Sybase, an SAP Company.
The conference and exhibition, which took place in Karachi Sheraton on March 14, 2013, showcased end-to-end solutions for Mobile and Branchless Banking which are being implemented in developed and emerging markets alike.
Tarik Husain, Senior Director of mCommerce for SAP, voiced his opinions with the press. “We are delighted not only in seeing the proliferation of mobile banking in Pakistan, but in witnessing how it continues to help change and improve the lives of many by empowering them to use financial services for the first time via their own mobile devices or retail agent in their vicinity. As a result, the increased mobile financial services activities in the country can help further fuel the economy.”
Abbas Ali Khan, Partner AbacusConsulting, talked about the opportunities represented by this field by stating that “Pakistan happens to be one of the fastest developing markets for branchless banking in the world and mCommerce services will create opportunities of unprecedented scale for bringing unbanked segments of society into the fold of financial networks. This, however, is only just the beginning of limitless opportunities; the field of mCommerce is open and willing to be exploited. Here at AbacusConsulting, we are fully committed in leveraging our vast knowledge in the field of mCommerce, where we are now highly recognized and experienced”.
AbacusConsulting’s on ground team of experts in the field of Mobile Money, its vast and in-depth knowledge of the domain being dealt in, combined with the senior management’s robust efforts in promoting the services of this highly dynamic field show the company’s seriousness towards developing mCommerce and mBanking in Pakistan. Being a part of some of the most dynamic and prominent deployments in country also speaks volumes of AbacusConsulting’s experience and expertise in the field.
It is hoped that the 6th international Mobile Commerce 2013 will go a long way in the development of Mobile Financial Services in the region, ushering the country into a new era in terms of mBanking and mCommerce services.

Monet Contracts with Fundamo to Offer Shared Mobile Money Solutions in Pakistan

Monet Monet Contracts with Fundamo to Offer Shared Mobile Money Solutions in PakistanA shared mobile money network, built on Visa’s Fundamo technology, that can be tapped by banks and telcos is preparing to launch in Pakistan, said a statement issued yesterday.
Monet –  a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Group – has secured approval from the State Bank of Pakistan to build its network, which is being offered to local firms planning to launch mobile money services.
Built on Fundamo technology, Monet says its offering will provide a managed service platform, agent management services and bill aggregation services to new financial institutions and network operators interested in entering branchless banking services.
The first clients are Pakistan’s sixth largest financial institution, Bank Alfalah, and Warid Telecom, who have teamed up to launch a new brand on the platform.
Monet says that its network will make it cheaper, easier and quicker for firms to tap into Pakistan’s huge unbanked market.
According to the Pakistan Access to Finance Survey, only 12% of the population has access to formal financial services, yet mobile penetration stands at nearly 70%, says the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority.
A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group estimates that 35% of the country’s adult population will be using mobile financial services by 2020.
Ali Abbas Sikander, CEO, Monet, says: “We are building an open and collaborative eco-system which benefits all the stakeholders of the financial services ecosystem in Pakistan. Collaborative mobile financial services, as opposed to bank-led or telco-led deployment, is the paradigm shift which will assist in creating a bigger and less costly enabling environment for the issuers, acquirers and service providers.”
Aletha Ling, COO, Fundamo, adds: “The platform allows service providers to think big, start small and scale fast. The result will be an ecosystem that that will support the long term and sustained growth of the Pakistani mobile financial services market.”