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TimePey – Branchless Banking System Initiated by ZONG in Pakistan
It seems like the Air of novelty and reinvention have routed towards the land of opportunities, Pakistan. After the arrival of incentive based punch system, today ZONG in Collaboration with Askari Bank (Financial Institution) announced a new branch less banking service called, “TimePey.” Before the launch of this mobile financial service, there are already three existing mobile financial services present in Pakistan with the names of EasyPaisa, UBL Omni, and newly launched MobiCash, three days prior to TimePey service. Those of you, who are not familiar with the name or services or are very new to these names or services, allow us to explain you about these services in short.

The services that we mentioned above starting from EasyPaisa, UBL Omni, and MobiCash, these are the financial services integrated in mobile. If some one needs to send money across city and doesn’t got a back account, so the person can visit any retailer shop with proper identification of his including the person to whom the money needs to be sent. Once all the requirements are fulfilled, the retailer tells you a code and takes the amount that you want to send to another person with a small fee. After taking the amount and fee, there is a code word provided to you by which the other person can get the amount from retailer from a near by location. In other words, we can say that these mobile financial institutions work like Western Union and Money Gram. The only difference is of service level. These services are used locally in Pakistan to send Money across the cities and Western Union type of financial institutions are used to send money internationally.

Entrance To The Inaugural Event Of TimePey (Expo Center)

In the above list of mobile financial services, we haven’t named recently announced mobile financial service called TimePey because it is not just related to sending or receiving of money across cities. This service of TimePey is more than you think.

Before we proceed on with TimePey details, we would like to explain the meaning and concept of TimePey that we learned today at the ZONG Media Event in Pakistan.

First, the word “TimePey” means “On Time.” After converting the name “TimePey,” the meaning of the word might be clearer to you. The meaning of the name is purely reflecting the things occurring on time rather than getting them late like others.

What is TimePey?

TimePey is a perfect solution for your financial needs and a branchless banking system that is recently introduced by ZONG in collaboration with Askari Bank in Pakistan. It allows a chapman to enjoy all the services/benefits that are offered to people who own a bank account. TimePey doesn’t require any one to open a back account before they cannot use this service, nor it requires a person to be an existing ZONG Customer. All it requires is the person should have his/her C.N.I.C in order to avail all the features that it is offering.

TimePey – Offical Media Poster – Jab Ap Chahain

What is the use of TimePey Branchless Banking?

The main and basic use of TimePey is to deliver the amount of money on time to your loved ones from you when they are in need or on the moment of happiness.

Further expanding the use of TimePey, we can do those things that we cannot do with its competitors. If we say that we can use all the facilities of an ATM Machine without using it on our mobile with the help of TimePey, it wouldn’t be wrong.

What are The Benefits of TimePey Branchless Banking?

Other than receiving or sending the money to your loved ones, you can even pay your school, college fees, utility bills, recharge mobile phones, transfer money to any one in few steps without going to bank, and many more benefits one can avail from TimePey.

Who can Utilize TimePey Branchless Banking Service?

This TimePey Branchless Banking Service is not limited to a particular public like Banks. This TimePey service can be utilized by any one from any race, place, gender, and city-having C.N.I.C (Country National Identity Card) can utilize this service on the go.

The person using this service doesn’t require any technical knowledge to use this service. This TimePey service works like other services available currently, but in a very secure way.

TimePey Branchless Services A Threat to Existing Services?

As far as we think about the TimePey Branchless Services, we can take it as a real threat for other competitors like EasyPaisa, MobiCash, and UBL Omni because the market is already set for this new innovative idea. People are already aware of the service that is being provided by other vendors. Therefore, it is an opportunity for TimePey to grab some market share, as it is offering tons of new features and facilities that aren’t being currently provided by the competitors of TimePey.

In a briefing made to us along with Wasio Abbasi, from a Zong’s official person, showed us the complete how to of the service. The person also explained about the features and showed us a demo of TimePey on his Mobile.

Zong’s Representative Briefing Ibrahim & Owais (Team TG) About TimePey

What we learned from the short briefing was that a person can enjoy all the features of an ATM Machine a long with tons of new features by just pressing (*888#) from his mobile. In order to enjoy all the features, the person should open a mobile account with Askari Bank’s any branch or can visit to any nearest Zong’s Customer Care center.

Moreover, according to a transaction slab made by ProPakistani showed some more evidence of TimePey being a real threat to its competitors. The price slab is as follows:

Price Slab Comparison Between Different Service Providers

The only advantage of TimePey over MobiCash and EasyPaisa is on the sending amount of 2500-8000, where you can save up to RS 30 and on bigger amounts, the charges are same of TimePey with MobiCash. The charges of EasyPaisa are higher than MobiCash and TimePey.
- Another competitive advantage of TimePey over MobiCash and EasyPaisa is that its offering two level Mobile accounts, Mobile Account
  - Level 1 Account
  - Level 2 Account
P2P Funds Transfer, Bill payment, Mobile Balance Top Up, and Business Solution of:
- Salary Disbursement
- Business to Consumer Payment
Salary Distribution of TimePey:

When we asked about Salary disbursement Solution, the representative told us that:

“We have made life’s much easier than before by implementing this new TimePey Branchless Service. With the help of this service, a person can disburse the salary of his employees directly into their TimePey account, so that they don’t need to go the bank to cash the cheque or to see if salary has been transferred not or to submit a pay order.

After implementing this TimePey service, the life would be made easier of every one from lower class to higher class.”

When asked about Business to Consumer Payment, the representative had some guests to greet that are why he couldn’t brief. This doesn’t means that you will be left in dark if he didn’t educated us about this feature, so what. We did some research and found out the following result.

The name might sound new strange, “Business to Consumer Payment.” The method and the function are old and people doing business are using this method. Those of you are familiar with PayPal must be aware of an account option of Business. Initially PayPal offers three options when you are tending to open an account. The first option is of Personal, Second is of Seller, and the third is of Business.

Business to Consumer Payment of TimePey:

Over here, business to consumer payment is a way in which intermediary or retailer is eliminated and the business directly contacts with the consumer.

It is said that an image is worth thousand words, therefore the image below will give you a crystal clear idea of this option.

Functionality Of Paypal – TimePey Offers Same Services

The image shown above is to just give you a hypothetical idea about the system that TimePey would be offering you, whenever they have made this service live.

Now coming towards the end of the story that is conclusion. The event was ended with a smiling group photo of all the celebrities that were invited to lighten the event of TimePey by ZONG.

Celebrities Invited To Enlighten The Event

Finally yet importantly, special thanks to Farzana Abdullah of Creative Jin for inviting us at this precious event to see how technology has changed the banking sector from paper to electronics.
2 December 2012
Zong Inaugurates “TimePey”– Live Event Covered

The team of TechGlued is present at Expo Center Karachi to cover the live event of the leading Carrier of Pakistan called Zong. Today Zong send out invites to show us something great and innovative. After waiting a while for the unnamed announcement to arrive, final the waiting moments are now over.

Zong has announced a new money transfer System Called, “TimePey.”

9:01 PM: Head of Askari is on stage

9:02 PM: The head of Askari Bank Pakistan is thanking to the Head of Statebank of Pakista for helping them out with the leading project of TimePey

9:06 PM: State Bank Governer is on the stage.

9:07 PM: telling about the history of finance.

9:10 PM: more than some percent of population in this country has no access to banks.

9:11 PM: both of the companies are new in this field with Askari Bank.

9:12 Pm: Branclhess baking will decrease the cost of banking.

9:13 PM: if the number of merchants increased, the banking sector would be reduced and reach of latest technology would be made to further areas.

9: 14 PM: Congratulates to ZONG and ASKARI Bank

9:15 PM: TVC of Zong on the line

9:19 PM: TVC Finished of Time Pey

9:20 PM: #Meera, #Qawi Khan, #Shabbir Jan, #Shakeel Siddiqui and #afsar on stage. CEO of Zong,

9:29 PM: Head Of Askari Bank is Breifing the media about #timepey

9:33 PM: Zong CEO is answering media questions

9:36 PM: Photo Session at Zong Press Conference.

A Panorama Shot by Our Staff:

10:01 PM: Break time and the event ended. Have a nice day & night.

1 December 2012
Olaround Pakistan First QR Based Motivational System – Review

These days, Technology is changing at a great pace that major change in technology seems to be a minor change to us because we are somewhat addicted to this fast moving technology. Back in 90’s when anything new was introduced and one couldn’t understand on how to use that thing, it was called Technology. This might sound strange now because later in twenty-first century, every one tried to coupe up with this fast moving technology and made their self compatible with all the latest trends along with tidbits. Therefore, these days we don’t feel a major change as a major; the major change seems to be minor for those who are in contact with the latest trends and gadgets that are being used in this twenty first century.

However, we can still find some people who are not compatible with latest trends and gadgets, they prefer the old living style of 90’s in which they spent their whole life. In order to survive in this twenty first century, every one needs to stay up to date with all the latest trends of the technology because every organization around the world is trying to implement latest technological gadgets to save time and cost. The foremost example of staying up to date with technological gadgets and how to make the most out of them is of Korea’s Tesco Super Market. Korea’s Tesco Super Market was the first store in the world to use QR Codes on a subway to reduce the time of customers and it made an ease for the customers to shop at a Subway station while waiting for the Train to arrive. All the customer’s need to do was to take out their smart phone and scan the QR Code of the product that they wanted to buy. After the QR Code of that particular product was scanned, the customer was redirected to the cart to finalize the order and fill in the information of shipping address to ship the items at their destination.

Until now, Korea was the first one to implement this QR Code technology in the country. As for now, Pakistan the under developing country has joined the race by implementing QR Code based system in an Application for iOS and Android called olaround.

Olaround is a product of Bramerz which is launched in association with Google & Ufone and is supported by P@SHA. This is not an incentive or a discount system only; indeed, it is more than these things in just one single App for all the smart phone users.

What is Olaround?

The Olaround is somewhat self-explanatory. If we read the name as “All Around” by eliminating the “O” from it, we can have a clear idea about the App that what is this App about and what will it have inside of it.

Olaround in simple words is one place price listing/menu made for smart phones in which a user can see tons of restaurants listings with updated menu cards.

How does it work?

Olaround is a simple App made for iOS and Android users having the functionality to scan QR Codes located at different restaurants that are listed in the Application across different cities of Pakistan.

All you need to have is this Application installed on your smart phone and must find a place where you want to hang out on olaround. Once you are done with finding the place, simply check for the menu, prepare your order, visit the place, ask the waiter or respected person to give you the QR Code card, so you can punch it virtually to avail discounts/freebies

The other way around is to open the App, visit a restaurant that is listed in the App, go to olaround scan option, and it will ask you to scan the QR Code present on a card. Once you scan the QR Code on the card, you will check in that place. When you are done scanning with the QR Code, a message will popup that you have checked in using the Application, therefore show this message to the staff to avail a freebie or a discount offer.

Official “Olaround” Video:

What Incentives are given out by Olaround?

Olaround is having about 170 listings of different restaurants across different cities of Pakistan with more companies joining them on daily basis. Every company has different incentive scheme under the name of “kicks.” Every restaurant listing is offering something good and unique incentive.

We have taken Purple Haze as an Example. As you can see below, Purple Haze is offering some nice discount on first, second third, fourth, and fifth punch. (They are offering amazing discounts. Other than this, some fast food chains offer a free drink at first punch like McDonalds (we availed one today) and on the tenth checking punch, you get a free McChicken Burger for free.)

How does the QR Code Looks like?

Before using this amazing service, we were wild guessing about the QR Code thing that it will be presented to us in printed form or on the final bill or some other form. However, when the manager of McDonald showed us the QR Code, we were blown away. It was very well organized and in proper manner along with complete instructions.

Below is how a QR Code Looks like:

Thanks to the manager for giving us the chance of taking the picture of the QR Code and increasing our experience.

Note: The QR Code has been edited and it is not in its original shape.

First Impression with Olaround Application for iOS and Android

After hearing about this awesome app from somewhere, today we went out to test this Application at McDonalds Phase V branch also called Sea View Branch. At first we thought to go in the dine-in area that was under construction, so we went to drive thru and asked the staff member if he was aware of this Application promotion thing. The staff member couldn’t understand at first and called out the manager. Then we asked the manager if he knew something about QR Code, he was blank. Then we told him in simpler words that we got an App over here by which you scan the barcode sort of code and get some incentives. As soon as we told him the details, he continued with the details and asked us to punch in virtually with our smart phone to avail the discount offer.

The moment we punched in with our smart phone, a messaged pop-upped stating,

“Thank you for punching at McDonalds, Kindly show this to the staff and avail a free drink.”

We showed the message to the manager and he told the staff to grant us with the free drink.

After using the App on Android Smart Phone, we were fascinated with the best use of the technology brought to Pakistan.

Drawbacks of Olaround

There are no such major disadvantages of Olaround, the only drawback that we encountered today was related to lack of awareness, and it seemed like the staff wasn’t well trained about the Olaround Application at the place where we visited. It took us about 3-5 minutes just to explain the staff about this QR Code stuff and the application that is currently rolling in the Market.

However, at first the staff denied the fact if any thing as Olaround exists with them. After explaining them in simple words, they understood and showed us the card on which we had to punch virtually.

The second draw back that we found was the App requires Internet to punch the card. If you are willing to punch through a driveway, then you will need to enable your Mobile Phone Internet to punch and avail the offer of incentives.

Limitations of Olaround

The limitation of Olaround is that you can punch once a day at any place you want to go and we believe that this is a good thing. If you are planning to go for breakfast at ABC Restaurant and then in night you plan to go to the same place for dinner, you wont be able to check in with Olaround because you have already punched for the day in morning.

However, you can go to different places compatible with Olaround for punch incentive system.

Conclusion

To sum up all the things a long with features that we explained above, we would like to say a big thanks to the team of Google, Ufone, P@SHA, and Bramerz who brought in this idea to Pakistan. Other than this, Olaround was the first application released that supported multi platform of Android and iOS, as well as supported the iPhone 5 display.

In the end, we would recommend this Application to every one who is living in Pakistan. This is necessary have App for smart phone users.

In order to avail this awesome service at your smart phone, kindly download the application from the link below

Download Olaround for iOS from here

Download Olaround for Android here.

Alternatively, you can scan the QR Code and get redirected to the App on your Smart Phone.

For iOS

For Android

30 November 2012
Download iTunes 11 Revamped Version for MAC and Windows (Download Links)

The public release of iTunes 11 is now live. At last, Apple has released the revamped version of the iTunes 11 with many new and major changes. At first, the iTunes 11 got a complete new design with complete integration with iCloud and many other features. The UI of iTunes 11 is now user friendly than the preceding versions of the iTunes. The new UI of iTunes 11 allows a person to organize his music library, movies, books, and many more things in a proper manner. Apple has changed the side bar of the iTunes menu into a stationary drop down menu in which the categories like Music, Videos, Books, and many more things are listed.

With the help of this awesome drop down option, a user can easily arrange their music library according to their needs or the way they want to arrange them.

Moreover, Apple has changed the way we used to see albums in iTunes. Apple has integrated accordion sort of drop down menu for the albums rather than showing the complete list of songs available in the albums option. When a user clicks on a particular album, a drop down menu opens in which he can see the songs placed in the album. On the same time, a user can get some matching songs related to the album he got via iTunes Store.

Other than this, the interface of device displaying area has been changed as well. iTunes 11 takes the device displaying area to a whole new level. This is one of the most amazing thing that we liked in iTunes 11 along with other features.

After all the features and new UI, comes the turn of awesomeness that we wanted to have in iTunes from ages. The name of the awesomeness is called the Mini Player. Apple re invented the iTunes 11 by providing it with a new and best feature of Mini Player. Mini Player is the minimized version of iTunes 11.

This mini player may look mini than the iPad Mini, but the functions provided this Mini Player couldn’t be found in any other player. This iTunes 11 Mini player allows a user to customize the song list by providing them the ability to make their own songs album. After the user have made the songs selection for them, they can further edit the list by seeing the next song and can even search for songs in the iTunes with the help of this Mini Player.

The story doesn’t ends here. The user can even airplay the song or video that he is watching on iTunes 11 on Apple T.V or any other iOS Device.

Finally yet importantly, the iCloud integration in iTunes 11 allows a user to download his purchases on iPhone/iPod/iPad without downloading the application, video, or song again from their device. iCloud also allows a user to see the video from where he left the video.

Including all the above-mentioned features, there is more waiting for you to download and experience the features that you never experience before. You can download the latest version of iTunes 11 for Windows and MAC from the Apple’s Software update or

Download iTunes 11 for MAC (Link)

Download iTunes 11 for Windows (Link)

30 November 2012
iTunes 11 Release Date Scheduled for This Thursday by Apple

The wait for the iTunes 11 is about to get over in few hours. Apple has finally decided to release the long rumored revamped version of the iTunes 11 later today. Previously, iTunes 11 version was rumored for the late October launch and then the dates slipped for late November launch because Apple wanted to make the iTunes 11 version right. Even before the Alleged October launch rumor, it was highly expected that Apple would be releasing the revamped version of the iTunes 11 with the Media Event that took place in October 2012.

However, as we reached in the last week of November, we still didn’t saw any iTunes 11 version coming for public launch. Later today, WSJ reported about the upcoming iTunes 11 version in the Apple’s “Mr. Fix-it” profile of SVP, Eddy Cue stating that the iTunes 11 was delayed for some engineering work and some parts of the Media Player needed to fixed prior the official release of this revamped version.

This week, Mr. Cue faces a test of how well Apple can keep up in online services with the launch of a new desktop version of iTunes, which is expected as soon as Thursday.

The official launch of the iTunes 11 was to be made in the month of October, but due to some technical issues, the tech giant had to move the dates from October to late November release. Therefore, iTunes 11 release date is scheduled for today and it may arrive in few hours. The expected time is 10:00 AM PDT (or California time). This is the favorite time of Apple to release new and emerging products.

This new version of iTunes 11 would be packed with deep integration of iCloud, new UI, new Mini Player, improved Media Content Synchronization, streaming of Movies, Music, and T.V Shows which user bought from one Apple device to another by not downloading them again on the other device.

Video of iTunes 11:

Video via (Apple Spotlight)

29 November 2012
Samsung Testing Samsung Galaxy S4 with Low Specs Internally – Benchmark

Following the preceding reports of Samsung Galaxy S4 Release date and specifications that were leaked back on November 17 were rejected by Samsung stating that the Korean company has no plans on releasing any new Samsung Flagship. The company already released Samsung Galaxy S3, a new member of Galaxy S Series back in May. Following the release of the iPhone 5 are Samsung Galaxy S3, the Korean company released a Mini version of Galaxy S3 that is called Galaxy S3 Mini. This newly introduced Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini few months are Galaxy S3 was a remarkable release to compete with the iPhone 5 because this Mini version was packed with the same features and specs that were introduced in Galaxy S3.

The only difference found in this Galaxy S3 Mini was of the screen size that was reduced from 4.8-inch to 4.0-inch and the resolution of the display that was decreased as well. Other than these two changes, it got no major over haul. Over here, many of you would be wondering about why did Samsung release a Mini version of the Galaxy S3. The complete details are present here for the answer. Now coming towards the forth coming Samsung Galaxy S4 that is high on the stake these days in the world of Internet and Rumors. The rumors are suggesting that Galaxy S4 might arrive at C.E.S 2013, where as Samsung has denied the rumors stating that they have no plans on releasing any new Smart Phone Line up so early. The company has already released two lineups of Galaxy S series in one year.

If the rejection of the rumors by the Korean company is believed to be true, then why did a device named GT-I9400 appeared on Nenamark 2 Benchmark test results?

Above shown are the unverified results of Nenamark 2 benchmark on which an unknown device with the name of GT-I9400 appeared from nowhere with Android 4.2 version, with the lowest resolution of 480X800, and a dual core processor. After seeing the details of resolution and processor, we can clearly declare this Nenamark 2 benchmark results as fake because Samsung wont be putting in a dual processor and such a low resolution in its forthcoming smart phone line up. We can say that Samsung has started to test the OS version on its upcoming Smart Phone internally with limited number of developers to see how the Android OS 4.2 Jelly Bean performs on Galaxy S4.

If the forthcoming Galaxy S Smart Phone is GT-I9400, then we can partially confirm that the release of Galaxy S4 will be ready to launch in May 2013 because GT-I9300 (Galaxy S3) appeared for software testing in December 2011. Therefore, we can expect the next member of the Galaxy S to be announced at C.E.S 2013 with initial sales to take place in May.

While we are heavily expecting the arrival of Samsung Galaxy S4, SamMobile notes that the number “4” is bad luck in South Korea. Therefore, we cannot be so sure about the name of the upcoming Galaxy S Smart Phone. For the time being we can name if Samsung Galaxy S4 or Samsung Galaxy S X.

28 November 2012