Category: Technology

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei has spoken out about the benefits to be gained by deeper cooperation between US and Chinese companies in the technology field. Talking with international media in a recent press conference, the executive advocated for the easing of US-China trade restrictions, and more open US trade under the Biden administration. 

“Trade benefits all sides. Allowing US companies to supply goods to Chinese customers is conducive to their own financial performance. If Huawei’s production capacity is expanded, that would also mean US companies could sell more to Huawei. It’s a win-win situation,” noted Zhengfei. “We still hope to be able to buy a lot of US components, parts, and machinery, so that US companies can also develop with the Chinese economy.”

In recent years, the US has adopted stricter trade policies with China, particularly in the technology domain. Zhengfei acknowledged that some US politicians have concerns over the potential impact of 5G and the security of these networks. Reiterating comments from last year, Zhengfei stressed that Huawei’s open to working with US companies to transfer knowledge around 5Gand collaborate on technology licensing.

“As long as the US asks for it, we would transfer everything from the [5G] source programs and source code to hardware design. I meant what I said, but no US company has come forward. If they want to talk, we’d be happy to talk,” said Zhengfei.

The executive added that Huawei doesn’t have the energy to get involved in a “political whirlpool” and prefers to focus on technology innovation. The executive elaborated on how there are many industries that Huawei is not directly familiar with, such as airports, ports, coal mining, iron and steel production, and automotive and aircraft manufacturing. That is why Huawei has built joint labs to learn more about the needs of these industries. Huawei now has more than 100 research centers and joint labs around the world, most of which specialize in areas like mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and aesthetics.Some of these are applied research labs Huawei has built with its customers, such as joint labs with telecom operators.

“We are still winning trust from a large number of customers,” Zhengfei commented. He cited how Huawei’s networks in Europe are now among the top global network performance tests. The fact that consumers can now use products like the iPhone 12 to its fullest potential on Huawei 5G networks in Europe is a further testament to the quality of its networks.

“We’ll continue serving [our] customers well by creating more value for them. We want them to have lasting faith in us, and we hope that they won’t sway because of political pressure,” noted Zhengfei.

Responding to questions about the future of Huawei’s device business, Zhengfei confirmed that Huawei is not just thinking about mobile phones. “Everything that connects people or things are devices. That includes things like laser and ultrasonic radar, self-driving vehicles, household gas meters, and so on. Mobile phones are only one part of the device category. So Huawei may transfer our 5G technologies to other [areas] in the future, but will never sell our device business.”

Despite Huawei being added to a US entity list ban in recent years, the Huawei founder remains optimistic about the company’s future and that of the global technology industry. Zhengfei said he is more confident than ever about Huawei’s survival, due in part tothe company having more ways to overcome its challenges. He also cited Huawei sales revenue and profits in 2020 as being higher than the previous year.

“We rely on globalization. As humanity keeps making progress, no company can develop a globalized industry alone. It requires concerted efforts from around the world.We won’t give up this ideal of globalization, and will continue doing business this way, no matter how harsh the sanctions or blocks are,” concluded Zhengfei.

Islamabad (Muhammad Yasir) Mobile Device Manufacturing (MDM) Regulations, 2021, prepared by Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) have been notified. The Regulations have come into force with effect from 25th January 2021, and aim to encourage local production of mobile devices in Pakistan.

As per the Regulations, all devices are to be manufactured as per ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) technical standards. Finished/ manufactured device made locally should display the label “Manufactured in Pakistan”.

The Authority shall consider all applications on merit for authorization to manufacture mobile devices in Pakistan. The key factors such as technical competence, experience of applicant’s management, key members of staff and local participation in the business; and technical viability of the applicant’s business plan for mobile device manufacturing will determine whether authorization is to be granted to the applicant. The duration of the authorization will be valid for 10 years.

The Regulations are available on PTA website: www.pta.gov.pk

Enabling People to bring at least an additional $1 billion each year into the Pakistani economy through E-Commerce skills by 2025.

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Pakistan has a large labour force that stands among the top 10 largest labour forces in the world, and it’s growing day by day. To create adequate employment opportunities for them is a huge challenge. On the other hand, employers frequently keep saying that they are unable to find workers with appropriate skills necessary for their businesses. This obviously shows that there is a mismatch between the demand and supply of skills.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has shown that skills development can play a major role in the alleviation of poverty, when carefully planned and implemented in the context of the available and emerging employment and income-generation opportunities. This multiplies many folds when the skills are acquired in the digital spheres. It not only widens the work opportunities but also opens up avenues for entrepreneurial ventures as well.

Extreme Commerce, Pakistan’s largest and renowned E-Commerce capacity building platform has excelled in its mission of making Pakistan a hub of entrepreneurial opportunities. Under the guidance of Sunny Ali, thousands of aspiring individuals from Pakistan have successfully initiated global e-commerce businesses.

Extreme Commerce, Pakistan’s largest e-commerce skill development and entrepreneurial platform has achieved yet another milestone with the expansion of 100+ skills training courses through the ‘Video Boot Camp (VBC)’. The Video Boot Camp includes virtual sessions and videos encompassing around 100 essential e-commerce and digital skills required to excel in the spheres of online businesses. The Video Boot Camp training program is specifically tailored to facilitate the budding entrepreneurs and businessmen and freelancers.

According to Ali, “Ecommerce has skyrocketed after the pandemic and is estimated to grow to a whopping $4.3 trillion within this year”. He further adds, “There is a huge potential for growth in ecommerce both domestic and international, and that is why we at Extreme Commerce have pledged to enable people to bring at least an additional $1 billion each year into the Pakistani economy through E-Commerce skills by 2025”.

The Video Boot Camp includes over a 100 plus income generating E-Commerce skills (income streams) which an entrepreneur needs to skyrocket their businesses. Some skills offered through the VBC include: Selling through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) model, Virtual Assistant and FBA Freelancing, online store management of international and local E-Commerce marketplaces, bookkeeping account management services, digital and social media marketing, content writing and graphic designing, 3D designing & modelling, data science and analytics, and more.

This initiative of Extreme Commerce will be immensely fruitful in helping their trainees become leading entrepreneurs of the country. Ali, contented with his vision states, “At Extreme Commerce, we offer a multitude of digital skills that are categorized into 100+ courses/income streams under the umbrella of Video Boot Camp (VBC 2021). These skills are pivotal to reducing unemployment and enhancing the capital of our country”. Sharing his focus and goals, he adds, “Skills that actually help you succeed as an online freelancer and even in the real-life environment plus increase your income thereby, are our prime focus right now”.

Earlier, Extreme Commerce and Mishal Pakistan, the Country Partner Institute of the World Economic Forum had signed a partnership to mainstream e-commerce in Pakistan, this includes capacity building initiatives for the media and industry players, including trainings, seminars and workshops.

The government of Pakistan has estimated digital skills global industry, often referred to as online outsourcing, is expected to generate gross service revenue between $15 billion and $25 billion in 2021.

By JUNAID JAVED

Xiaomi’s latest Mi 11 flagship series have the two upcoming editions named as Mi 11 Lite and Mi 11 Pro. The ‘Pro’ edition is making headlines ever since its unapproved marketing images were leaked. But until now, the gossips and rumors spreaders has been mostly silent about the Mi 11 Lite after its product renders surfaced online. A credible leaker just shared the key specifications of the phone.

The new premium mid-range phone features the unreleased Qualcomm SM7350, a 5x telephoto camera, and an OLED screen, Digital Chat Station, the Chinese phone leaker, reported. Mi 11 was the debut phone for Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 888. Likely, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite will also launch with a new Qualcomm chipset.

In November last year, Roland Quandt tweeted that Qualcomm is testing a new chip, codenamed “Cedros.” He believes the SM7350 model number belongs to the unannounced Snapdragon 775. The new SoC is “closely related” to the flagship chips, according to Mr. Quandt.

The ‘SM7350’ model name was later found buried in the Mi 11 Kernel source code, all-but-confirming that this new “almost flagship” chipset powers the Mi 11 Lite. Speculation suggests that the Snapdragon 755 uses Qualcomm’s most cutting-edge 5nm process, blurring the line between flagship and upper mid-range silicon. 

According to Digital Chat Station, the Mi 10 Lite offers 5x optical zoom. But the leak doesn’t specify a periscope-style lens.

If it’s true lossless zooming and not the hybrid kind, it stands to reason that we’re looking at a periscope-telephoto camera — much like the 5x lens found in last year’s Mi 10 Lite Zoom Edition. Also, note that the standard Mi 11 lacks telephoto functionality of any kind.

By JUNAID JAVED

Nokia 5.4 with 4,000mAh long battery life and the clean android one with Snapdragon 662  

Nokia 5.4 is the latest entry in Nokia’s budget line of phones after the recently launched Nokia 3.4. The 5.4 got unveiled globaly in December last year, featuring the Snapdragon 662, which puts it in direct competition with the POCO M3 and the like. And it’s now available in Pakistan. Advance Telecom made the official announcement yesterday. 

The all-new Nokia 5.4 offers a clean, stock Android One experience that many would appreciate, but it lacks the feature set that its aggressively priced competitors have. 

The smartphone is made of plastic without any Gorilla Glass protection. It’s 8.7mm thick, but the shell curves to make up for it. We’re looking at the familiar Nordic design that comes in Polar Night and Dusk shades. A donut-shaped camera housing rests above the capacitive fingerprint scanner. Nokia 5.4 has a dedicated button to summon the Google Assistant (but it can’t be mapped to other shortcuts).

Flip the phone over to find a generic 6.39” IPS LCD panel with a hole-punch cutout. Where the cheaper Xiaomi models feature 1080P screens, the Nokia 5.4 peaks at 720P. The charging speeds also feel out of place in 2021. The phone’s 4000 mAh battery is powered over 10W.

Android10 is shipped with the 5.4. It’s not the latest version, but HMD guarantees two years of Android upgrades. Combined with the low-res screen, the bloat-free OS easily stretches the battery life past a day. And thanks to the hybrid tray, the storage on the new addition to the Nokia price list can be expanded with a microSD card.

Similarly, a 3.5mm headphone jack is available. The mono-speaker is unremarkable. Of the total five cameras, four live in the rear-camera housing. The array features a 48MP f/1.8 wide camera, joined by a low-res 5MP wide-angle cam and a pair of 2MP sensors to pad the count. The front camera is a higher-res 16MP.

Nokia 5.4 starts from Rs. 31,999. The Pakistani variant uses 4GB of memory and 128GB of storage.

 

NdcTech & Hysab Kytab enter into a strategic partnership to offer its customers Smarter Money Management

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Hysab Kytab a technology company that provides digital solutions through a suite of financial management and consumer products signed a partnership with NdcTech, an award winning partner of Temenos. This partnership will allow NdcTech customers smarter money management and an improved bank-user engagement for a greater share of the wallet.

The partnership agreement was signed in Karachi in presence of the leadership teams of both companies.

Khurram Shaikh, Head Digital Strategy & Consultancy, NdcTech, while sharing his views about the partnership said. “Being a Customer Centric Company NdcTech believes in the benefits of collaboration to take advantage of the fintech innovations to enable its customers offer innovative digital solutions with pre integrated fintech solutions. With this strategic partnership both companies aim to improve digital banking experience, smart money management and help customers to proactively manage their finances. Financial institute can greatly benefit through more meaningful behavioral insights of their users to offer contextual products.

Yasir Ilyas,  Head of Hysab Kytab, while sharing his views about the partnership said. “It is increasingly becoming common for Fintechs to establish partnerships with organizations that can extend their reach and improve their technical expertise. I believe this partnership between NdcTech and Hysab Kytab will boost the companies’ current reach in previously untapped markets, including millennials and tech savvy customers. It will also provide meaningful insights to all stakeholders and enhance customers’ financial inclusion.”

NdcTech is a partner with the world’s #1 banking software for Core and Digital banking platform which supports 1.2 billion people around the world with their daily banking needs, making up for approximately 30% of the world’s banking population. 

The renowned smartphone brand, TECNO recently started the #TECNOPhotoWalk that has been covering major cities in Pakistan. After the success of the first destination, Islamabad, TECNO has now reached the city of lights, Karachi. The brand has given a tough competition to its competitors by doing such a successful Photowalk in both cities. The walk received huge engagement and overwhelming response by fans.

TECNO graced the most populous city and the capital of the Sindh province Karachi. Well known as the city of lights due to its late nightlife, open shops, and outdoor activities like eating, sea view trips, etc. TECNO took the fans through the bewilderments of the landscape, covering Frere Hall and Hawks Bay, captured by the lens of the ultimate camera solution, Camon 16.

The first destination for the Photowalk, Frere Hall dates back to the early British colonial-era. It is a beautiful landscape originally intended to serve as Karachi’s town hall but now serves as an exhibition space and a library. The second destination was the breathtaking Hawke’s Bay, the beach that dates back to the early 1900s. The beach is very popular, with hundreds of people visiting daily for swimming, camel and horse riding, and vacation trips. Both places are hot tourist spots in the city of lights. After the tiring event, TECNO took all partakers for a lunch feast at the famous Café Strada. They were also given gifts from the brand as a token of gratitude.

The Photowalk were all given TECNO Camon 16 phones to capture the photos for the event. The winners with the best-captured images will be rewarded with the winning prize and will be announced at the end of the campaign. The announcement will be done on TECNO’s social media platform after all destinations are covered. The fun doesn’t end here, TECNO’s next destination will be the heart of the country, the city of gardens, Lahore.

Gear up everyone in Lahore! Even if you missed joining the previous walks, you can still be a part of this one by filling up the registration form. Participation is simple, just fill out the registration form below and join us with your friend and family in this great city exploring venture. Stay tuned for more updates and fun-filled activities from TECNO in the coming days.

The link for the form is at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1luvG4VAN_X371N-933aIrjxbiZ3KCh1iu7VMsXDQOYs/viewform?edit_requested=true

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Mobile phone accessories demand and usage have been increasing drastically over the years. With the increasing technology awareness and the growing purchasing capacity of the masses, Pakistan as a market has shown a potential for growth of the technology sector.

Driven by systematic operation and constant innovation, Riversong has developed a creative product portfolio ranging from basic smart gadgets to AI innovation. Their products are enjoyed in more than 25 countries, serving over one-fifth of the world’s population.

RIVERSONG’s devices with cutting-edge technology, housed in attractive cases, are the perfect lifestyle partners that one would love to flaunt. RIVERSONG is committed to bring premium products with people-oriented designs and excellent customer services with a vision to become a brand that deserves your love.

According to the RIVERSONG’s Global COO – Sales, Syed Ali Yousuf, “this rising smartphone usage in the region has accelerated the growth of the relatively new segment. This provides an opportunity for RIVERSONG to further penetrate the regional market with its unique and premium qualitative products with best possible pricing. Riversong products are not only of great quality but also the very first brand to introduce 1 year replacement warranty in Pakistan.”

“We are constantly working towards making Pakistan a smarter country by offering latest technology in our products and keeping up with the tech trends globally. Our aim is to reach every nook and corner of the country through the rapid expansion plans we have”. Syed added.

 

“We are aiming to target 25% of the market share in Pakistan by end of 2022. Our competitive product portfolio, ranging from basic smart accessories to smart devices, are indeed a perfect fit the region’s constantly evolving demands.” noted Syed.

 

Fastest growing smartphone brand realme plans to bring trendier & smart AIoT products that match style of our young consumers

With the vision of a remarkable tomorrow realme has provided the best solution for modern needs. The brand has introduced multiple AIoT products in the last year. These products were promising and accumulated high sales. realme focuses on becoming a lifestyle brand and encapsulate all the necessities of life. The brand aims to include travelling in the lifestyle as well and create products in that regard. realme’s AIoT arsenal has a lot of products in it such as realme Buds Wireless Pro, realme Watch S, realme Smart Scale, realme Smart Cam, realme N1 Sonic Electric Toothbrush, and much more.

The brand’s lifestyle products comprise audio products, wearable, home-based, and other products. The realme Buds Wireless Pro was overwhelmingly embraced by the users. It had ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and a 22-hour playback. Another amazing product of realme is Watch S that was equipped with a preset of workout programs and high-quality sensors. The realme Smart Scale was a compliment to their fitness-based products. It is a perfect companion in the journey of fitness. Moreover, the realme Smart Cam had a crystal-clear result and a chic design. It produced amazing results that modify the user experience. Also, the realme N1 Sonic Electric Toothbrush had an attractive new design and provides easy to use features. These products communicate the lifestyle approach of realme.

realme has already introduced around 100 AIoT products. They brand plan to release much more to accommodate the needs of their users. realme has huge plans for the coming year as well. The brand has amazing mobile phones that have captured the market. Few of these smartphones are realme 7 Pro, realme C15, realme C17, and much more.

The main focus of realme is to create relevance among the youth and become a trendsetter. The brand produce quality products with a fashionable finesse that makes their products tempting to the customers. They work rigorously to bring new products in the market. realme is always active in producing new products. It is imperative to stay tuned with their social media platforms for staying updated on the new launch events.

USF awards contract worth PKR 254 Million to Jazz for providing

Broadband services in Jhelum and Chakwal Districts

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) The Universal Service Fund (USF) awarded contract worth approximately PKR 254 Million to Jazz for providing High Speed Mobile Broadband services in rural and remote areas of Punjab. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque and Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry witnessed the contract signing ceremony held at the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Islamabad on Monday. The contracts were signed by Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, CEO, USF with Aamir Ibrahim, CEO Jazz. The Federal Secretary for IT & Telecommunication and Chairman USF Board, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, and Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa were also present at the ceremony.

Chief Guest of the ceremony, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque said: “While the COVID-19 pandemic slackened economic activity, vibrant Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems played a pivotal role in ensuring the availability of essential services to the community. In a way, the pandemic actualized the true potential of broadband services, transforming the way people lived their lives. In line with the Digital Pakistan initiative, we are committed to providing the required digital ecosystem by working with all relevant stakeholders for enhanced connectivity, improved digital infrastructure, and promotion of emerging technologies.” The Federal Minister also congratulated Jazz and USF on the signing of the contract and expressed the hope that residents in Jhelum and Chakwal districts will have better connectivity through Jazz’s state-of-the-art network. He stated that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication through USF will continue to empower the citizens in remote and far-flung areas to ensure that every Pakistani has access to the internet, enabling them to explore new socio-economic opportunities.

While sharing his views at the ceremony, Aamir Ibrahim, CEO Jazz, said, “Our continued partnership with USF is a reflection of Jazz’s commitment to bridge the digital divide and connect our fellow countrymen with fast and reliable mobile broadband. Our ambition to digitally empower Pakistan is fueled through enhanced connectivity and by creating equal opportunities for all.”

Also, sharing his thoughts at the ceremony, CEO USF, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary said: “This project will benefit an unserved population of 0.34 Million in 263 unserved mauzas, thereby covering an unserved area of 4,002 sq.km. of Jhelum and Chakwal districts. By providing mobile broadband to the unserved muazas across the country, USF is playing a crucial role in the socio-economic progress of the people at the grassroots level and have opened the doors of opportunities for the masses. USF will continue to work towards achieving the vison of Digital Pakistan”. Furthermore, he thanked the Federal Minister and the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication for their continued support and guidance.