Ufone- Incoming Call Bonus Offer ???

At the beginning when mobile telecom services were growing in Pakistan receiving call were also charged and some early operators made a lot of profit on it. But now we see Ufone coming up with this Incoming Call Bonus Offer where you can earn free balance on receiving incoming calls.

With Ufone’s Incoming Call Bonus Offer, when you receive a call from any other network, local, nationwide or international for more than two minutes you will earn a free balance of 25 paisa per call. Details can be found at Ufone website.
Like all promotional offer a company gives, ultimately is for a bigger return. The big question is:
“In this offer where Ufone is giving 25 paisas, what return are they getting on it and how?”
I think I have an answer to this but lets see what do you think. Post your answers in comments.

Super Ghanta – Is Ufone Being Fair?

We had earlier discussed the Ghanta race and its TV commercial being very sarcastic. With Super Ghanta Ufone became the only carrier to extend promotions to PTCL landlines and Vfone numbers.
Like they say it: It’s all about U. Being a subsidiary of PTCL, Ufone is the only operator that can offer such a promotion. Other operators have taken this offer as unfair and not being part of a healthy competition. The issue is also being taken up with the authority (PTA).
Now, Ufone has extended the time window of Super Ghanta Package to whole day for the month of Ramadan which otherwise was from 4am to 5pm which enabling its customers to call from Ufone to all Ufone, PTCL and Vfone numbers nationwide for Rs. 3.5/hour.

Informing about this latest Ramadan offer by Ufone, Mr. Ali Ikram, Head of Pricing & Strategy Ufone, said “This Ramadan, we are pleased to provide a special treat to our valued users by facilitating longer duration communication between friends and family members not only at night but throughout the day without the mental burden of calculating minutes and rates.”
The strategy already used in the Super Ghanta offer, as discussed is unfair and with this extension to 24 hrs makes it even more unhealthy and unfair in terms of competition. Also, if we talk about pricing Ufone says its about reducing the mental burden of calculating minutes and rates at the same time they have started to charge 10 Paisas+tax on balance inquires and here by increasing the burden on consumers of calculating minutes and rates.
The reason given at Ufone website for this extra charge is to cater the high service quality needs of consumers. Is it again fair to charge consumers for the quality of network?

Cellular Trend Watch – July 2009

The latest numbers from PTA reveal that the total subscriber base of cellular services has reached 95.5 million, and the trend between Moblink and Telenor as discussed earlier continues.

The neck to neck race of subscriber acquisition continues between Mobilink and Telenor as Mobilink gained 414K in July 2009 and Telenor added 406K.

A significant increase as compared to May 2009 in subscriber base of Warid can also be seen, possibly due marketing comeback from Warid and introduction of the Glow prepaid package.

Ufone despite their intense marketing gained less than Zong in July.

The month to month subscriber change for the first half of 2009 shows a consistent increase in subscriber base over the past three months.

If the current growth pace is sustained, the subscriber number should be close to 100 million by end of December 2009.

Ufone Ghanta Offer

Ufone has taken a lead in the Ghanta offer race by offering Super Ghanta package. This one is unique offer as it comes with not only an increase in duration to the Ufone’s traditional ghanta package but also being offered off-net i.e. to any PTCL landlines and Vfone numbers across the country.

The Super Ghanta offer is launched with a very sarcastically funny ad. Before we take a look at that, lets follow the Ghanta offer race.

Ufone has been offering the Ghanta offer @Rs. 5.99/hour from 9am to 5pm with daily subscription charges of Rs. 3.99/day.

Earlier this month, Mobilink Jazz came up with their Ghanta offer @Rs. 3.99/hour from 9am to 5pm with daily subscription charges of Rs. 5.99/day.

An interesting thing to notice here is that Mobilink adopted the Ufone daily charges as their hourly rate and hourly rate as daily charges.

With the start of Ramzan, the Mobilink Jazz Ghanta offer was revised with an increase in time window. Ramzan Ghanta offer comes @Rs. 3.99/hour from 9am to 7pm with daily subscription charges of Rs. 5.99/day.

And now comes the Ufone Super Ghanta offer @Rs. 3.50/hour from 4am to 5pm with daily subscription charges of Rs. 5.99/day.

The Ufone Super Ghanta offer wins over the Mobilink Jazz Ramzan Ghanta offer in not only the hourly rate and time window but like I said earlier extending it to include calls to landlines and Vfone numbers.

The price war between operators have taken a new form. Now they just not announce thier packages but also denounce others. This Ufone Super Ghanta Jadoogar ad says it all.

Ufone Launches UConnect

Today, Ufone has announced the launch of a very interesting service named UConnect. The service allows you to use your cellphone to control several activities on your PC. In addition to remote PC access the service combos Push-Email-over-SMS as well. It may sound a bit complex but in my initial experience I find the service very easy-to-use. No downloads and installation required on phone, no complex configurations, no issue of proxies and firewalls on your pc, in short, if you have data enabled phone, it’ll work just fine. Following is the list of main features of UConnect:

• Remote file access: You can access the files on your PC remotely. No download required on your phone and it all works on the mobile-browser.
• Remote access to your Outlook emails: Access your MS-Outlook emails on the go using the mobile-browser
• PC control: Allows you to restart, shutdown, hibernate, sleep and log off your machine.
• Multiple PC remote access: Above three features can be used on more than one PCs
• Push Email: Sends you SMS and Wap-Push notifications for every incoming email and you can configure up to 5 email accounts with it. You can even use it on a non-smart phone.
• 512 MB web-space: Each user will be allocated 512 MB space on the server.

How to subscribe?

Simply SMS SUB to 292 to sign up for the service.

How it works

• You can access the service on the phone by visiting http://uconnect.ufone.com on their mobile browser. Once signed up you can login and configure push email from here.
• You can download UConnect client software to be installed on your PC from http://uconnect.ufone.com that allows remote access on your phone.

Ufone Rishta Point - Matchmaking Through Mobile Phones. Useful or Just For Fun?

The fierce competition among the cell phone providers has led to some services which are called value-added but seem to be of limited value. Just consider these services from the cell phone companies: love meter, personality test by sms, which cartoon character are you, nursery rhymers on IVR etc. Obviously the value of a service is with the end consumer so it is very subjective and everyone can have their own preferences.

But what about Ufone Rishta Point, an IVR based matchmaking system which allows you to record and hear profiles and messages? The question is whether this service will be adopted by the usual family and friends involved in serious match making? Or is it just for people with time and a bit of extra balance to have fun? Tell us and we will put it in our useful application list.

To create your profile Dial 146 or go to wap.ufone.com and click on the Ufone Rishta Point Icon. In the IVR main menu, you will get an option to record a profile/proposal, listen to recorded profiles, edit or Delete your profile, listen to your proposal history.

How do I contact the candidates through Ufone Rishta Point?

While browsing/listening to the profiles, you can contact a candidate by pressing ‘0’. Please note that only those people can contact other candidates who already have a profile recorded on Ufone Rishta Point.

When you press ‘0’, the other party will receive an SMS with your details like age, gender, marital status etc. The receiving party will be given your ID in that SMS. The said individual will call on that ID and listen to your recorded message.

If the candidate shows interest, you will receive a call connecting you to the potential candidate. To maintain confidentiality, the call you will receive will be from 146xxxx.

The Math Behind Ufone BayHisab Offer

Sounds like a great deal. Ufone’s Bayhisaab Offer - a daily subscription - give you 20 minutes of talk time Ufone to Ufone and unlimited SMS to any network for ONLY Rs.15.99 + tax. All good unless you realize that the Bayhisaab comes out to 500 messages. As Ufone puts it: Fair Use Policy is applicable, up to 500 SMS (250 On-net and 250 Off –net)

I have criticized other companies on this issue. I believe that such claims of unlimited or bayhisaab are misleading. For 98% of users, 500 daily sms are more than enough. Of course people who are heavy users of sms can find other packages by Ufone or Zong sms bundle etc (there are too many to list) which can give them a better deal over a month instead of subscribing to a daily package. So why is Ufone trying to claim something which its not really offering?

Ufone New SMS Bundle Offer – Weekly SMS Bundle Package Introduced!

SMS Bundle offers led to NO DELIVERY CONFIRMATION messages anymore and load on network but Telecom companies keep on presenting such offers. Now Ufone offers new SMS bundle offers. As for as the Daily SMS package is concerned, customer used to activate it manually initially but now Ufone has automated the system. Thank God, one good news. A new SMS bundle package has been introduced by Ufone, named as Weekly Package.

Subscribers can enjoy 700 SMS to any network in Pakistan for as low as Rs. 0.01/SMS. Means customer has to pay 6.99+ Tax or Rs. 8.36 included Taxes to avail this offer. Weekly Package is only available on all Ufone Life Packages which include; Life Value, Life Plus, U Circle Life & U Circle Life Plus, Life Standard.

How to Subscribe:

Please see the following picture which will guide you properly for each SMS Bundle Package activation process.

Just let me give you an example;

If you want to subscribe for weekly package, you will write short code ‘Sub’ and will send it to ‘608′ and you will receive a confimation message from the service.

For more details, please visit: http://www.ufone.com/prepay_sms.aspx

Call Ufone to Any Network, Any Time Just for Re. 60 Per 30 Seconds

Although Ufone is apparently failed to save its credibility because of its poor quality service and old equipment but they must be appreciated for the humorous Television ads. Well…More specifically their Ad Agency. Ufone now presents a new offer to its subscribers and they can now call Ufone to Ufone or any other network in Pakistan for as low as Re. 60 per 30 seconds.

To subscribe, just write code ’sub’ and send it to 717.

19.5% FED and 10% withholding tax applies on recharge. So, customer pays a total of Re. 71.7/- per 30 seconds or Rs. 1.43.4 per 60 seconds.

For more details, please visit: http://www.ufone.com/prepay_60PaisaOffer.aspx

Ufone launches Child Healthcare Initiative [Press Release]

Islamabad – July 07, 2009: State Minister for Health, Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal Sindhu inaugurated the revamped Children Ward and Children OPD of the FGSH (PolyClinic), a pilot project of Ufone’s Child Healthcare initiative here today.

In major hospitals nationwide, Ufone, one of the leading telecom operators of Pakistan will entirely revamp Children Ward and Children OPD to mitigate the sufferings of the child patients while making their stay at hospitals more hygienic and comfortable. As pilot project, Ufone has revamped the entire Children Ward and the Children OPD of the Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad commonly known as Polyclinic.

The revamping at Children Ward and OPD includes complete renovation of the internal and external areas with new beds, flooring, paint, seating, air conditioners, heaters, area beautification, lighting, Plasma TVs, help desks, windows, curtains, nursing cabinets and ventilation.

The inauguration ceremony held here was attended by the President & CEO Ufone Abdul Aziz Khan and the Executive Director Polyclinic Dr. Shaukat Kiani.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Abdul Aziz, President & CEO Ufone said, “For countries like Pakistan, it is very important that the corporate sector supports the government in this gigantic task of providing basic services to all corners of the country. And equally important is to invest and upgrade existing health facilities.” Mr. Aziz concluded with offering the special gratitude to the management of the hospital for their cooperation throughout the revamping process.

Commenting on the Ufone initiative, Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal Sindhu, Minister of State for Health shared, “This nationwide initiative by Ufone is laudable. We are very much aware of the fact that our targets can only be achieved with the Public-private partnerships. We appreciate that the private entities of our country like Ufone are highly aware of their corporate social responsibilities and are contributing well. The Children Ward and Children OPD of the FGSH is an eminent sample of their conviction of helping the public sector and that too in the area that is important and delicate”.

After the formal speeches, chief guest Mr. Sindhu presented certificates of appreciation to all those who have made this project a success.

State Minister along with President & CEO Ufone then visited the revamped Children Ward and Children OPD and cut the ribbon formally. Guests and the media were given a round of the revamped areas.

In the second phase of this CSR Initiative, Ufone will help upgrading the health facilities at District Headquarter Hospital, Vihari.

Zong vs Ufone

zong and ufone ads fitting.

First ufone says to zong.







Then zong replied.

Waridtel, Zong, Ufone, Telenor, Mobilink sms service center numbers

• Enter Menu Mode on your hand phone
  


• Select \"Messages\" or \"Mail\"
  


• Select \"Message Setting\"
  


• Select \"SMS Centre\"‚ \"Message Centre Number\"‚ \"Route Centre\" or its equivalent
  


• Enter Message Centre Number:

Ufone sms service center number +923330005150 or 00923330005150

Waridtel Service sms center number +9232100006001 or 00923210006001

Telenor Pakistan sms service center number +923455000010 or 00923455000010

Zong Pakistan sms service center number +923040000011 or 00923040000011

Mobilink Pakistan sms service center number +92300000042 or 0092300000042

Ufone Sucks Big Time – Poor Service Quality and Pathetic Customer Service

Being a loyal customer, I hate to write this but they made me do so. For the past few weeks, Ufone service quality has been pathetic disappointing. I am sure most of you (Ufone users) must be facing the issues I am. Sometimes I just get disconnected from the rest of the world. Can not send messages, can not dial or receive calls.

Today, same happened and I thought of contacting the Customer Support Center. Call connected and was put on hold. I waited for 20 minutes and then the call was disconnected. What the hell??? Why they are charging Rs. 1/- per call to customer center, claiming that this is to provide better customer service but it seems that its a new way of robbery by Telecom Companies. I called again and now 15 minutes so far and no signs of Customer Service Representative. That’s coward. Just let them pick the phone and I will make them regret.
I am porting out. Yes, I can not bear this anymore. Tried to compromise because of the brand association but when brand doesn’t care, why should I? Just help me find a better network and if you are Ufone users, write your comments about the service.

Again 20 minutes and call disconnected.
Time of Calls (PST 12:40 AM – 1:20 AM)

Edit: Dialed called third time and finally someone picked up and told me that there is some maintenance happening thats why we are facing issues. I asked “Who on earth would intimate customers?” and asked about the last complaint (a week ago) I lodged, he was speechless. I am surely porting out now!