Airtel Nigeria may lose subscribers over BIS stoppage

Airtel’s decision to stop its BlackBerry plans on non BlackBerry devices may cause some of its subscribers to find solace among rivals.

These are some responses on the firm’s Facebook page.

 Prince Sunday Johnson Obot
It has been brought to my notice that you guys are planning to block BIS on Non-BB access Devices. Well, i want to tell you guys that you are on course for a wreckage of your business and whosoever that advised you guys to do that probably by following your other competitors - MTN, Glo and etisalat is such an unrealistic and deluded fellow with respect to the standard of your service. May i also bring to your notice that i have been a loyal customer from the Vmobile era and interestingly my sim is still Vmobile Sim card. Airtel has been my primary line from the beginning as it was my first sim i aquired but due to the terrible nature of your service in terms of standard, your lack of appreciation for your customers, i bought an etisalat sim with a new phone and since then, eti9ja has been my primary line and even when one of my phones got damaged and i had to forego one sim for the other, i dropped your sim card in favor of my etisalat line until recently i started using it for internet surfing on non-bb access device. Now, you may wonder why all this long story. well, its to tell you that, like me, other subscribers dont buy in to your voice services cos its rubbish and many of us out there put up with your crap internet cos the only edge you have over other network operators is the use of BIS on non- BIS access devices hence thats the ONLY thing that keeps you people alive per say airtel otherwise your fate would be like Visafone. yeah, that's the only life line you have left in my opinion. this is no threat but dare block the service and see yourself die a natural death cos those who advice you to block the service are only looking for your ruination cos they are giving you a FALSE impression of yourself. They're apparently hallucinating or even illusioned.how? i'll tell you.

From a reality check, truth be told, Airtel is of no match to MTN, Etisalat and not to mention glo in many aspect. Granted, these operators have all blocked BIS on non-BIS devices but then they have other services and freebies that would still balance their subscriber base. but what about you? what do you have to offer? poor service, exorbitant call charges and the likes. MTN and etisalat has the best internet service at the moment but you dont! you claim to have 3.75G which's equivalent to HSPA but over 80% of your subscribers are still complaining of poor internet service. I dont browse with your sim on day time cos its whacked! etisalat does it better. i find your service good to managed as from 12AM in the morning till 4AM. So tell me what's your pride huh? Just tell me one thing that makes you stand out amongst your competitors if should block BIS on non-bb device? MTN and etisalat's Edge or 3G is 100times better than your 4G(thats if you have one). etisalat gives me 1 minute for every 3mins calls from other networks.. i get 30% bonus on all recharge i make in 30days. MTN gives me double of my credit recharge and guess what? i use this airtime to call other networks too.. what can you really boost of doing for your subscribers airtel? the only one you ever did is the one you are now about to abolish. you are heading for a serious skyfall airtel.

So if you like, go ahead and block BIS on no Bis device i dont care! i will rather go spend my money and subscribe for MTN fastlink or etisalat easyblaze data plans than spend even 100 naira on your non-bis data plan.

 

Kayode Oluwarotimi Joshua To say d truth, I don't use my airtel line for calling. I only use it to browse on my android phone wit d BIS. If truly u guys r going to block d use use of BIS on non bb phones, u've gotta make available a smartphone plan dat will be as good as d BIS. We r d ones dat preaches d gospel of d use airtel BIS on android but if u block it without a vice versa plan, we will surely be dia to repreach d gospel n u'll lose all d soul we've ever won for you. Be wise...

 

Airtel customers to watch Arsenal at the Emirates

From left: Ms Sunmisola Osi-Efa, Project Coordinator, Skye Bank and Mrs. Chinenye Chima, Principal Maritime Labour Officer, NIMASA, both members of Airtel Premier Club and winners of round trip (business class) tickets to watch Arsenal’s home game against Everton on Sunday, at the Emirate Stadium, United Kingdom, in the Airtel’s Rewardz Loyalty Surprise Campaign. Both winners were presented with their tickets at Airtel HQ, Banana Island, Ikoyi Lagos.

Airtel Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to continually reward loyalty by offering four customers tickets to watch Arsenal FC clash with Everton at the Emirates Stadium, this Sunday.

The leading telecommunications service provider is rewarding these customers, who were selected in the on-going Airtel Loyalty Surprise campaign, with an all-expense trip to the Emirates, based on their allegiance to the network.

Two of the winners, Sunmisola Osi-Efa, Project Coordinator, Skye Bank and Mrs. Chinenye Chima, Principal Maritime Labour Officer at NIMASA were formally handed their tickets by the Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Segun Ogunsanya, on Wednesday during a brief ceremony held at Airtel Head Office in Banana Island, Lagos.

The winners are expected to depart Lagos on Saturday morning for London.

Speaking at the occasion, Ogunsanya thanked the winners for their loyalty to the company, pledging to continually reward customers for staying true to the Airtel brand.

He reiterated the company’s commitment to provide customers with impactful products and services matched with excellent customer services in pursuit of its vision of becoming the most loved brand in the lives of Nigerians.

"I must congratulate you for your patronage and belief in the Airtel brand for these past years. It is your support and the useful consumer insights that you consistently provide, that has contributed great value to our business as we push the frontier of telecoms services further to delight our customers. We wish you a safe trip as you share quality time at the Emirates with our partners, Arsenal FC in London", the CEO stated.

Last year, Airtel and Arsenal FC signed a partnership that provides Airtel with the opportunity to utilize the club's merchandising, hospitality and content rights in five countries, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Uganda and Rwanda.

The Airtel Premier Club is a dedicated reward programme for high value customers.

Airtel commissions adopted School in Imo

From Left, His Royal Highness, Amara III of Amumara, Chairman Ezinihitte Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Ositadinma Beneth Nwokocha; Airtel’s Regional Operations Director, South Region, Godfrey Efeurhobo; Hon. Commissioner of Education, Imo State, Dr. Uche Ejiogu and CSR Manager, Airtel, Chinda Manjor during the unveiling of plaque at the commissioning of Airtel adopted Community Primary School, Amumara, Ezinihitte, LGA, Imo State today.

Chuks Udo Okonta

 Airtel Nigeria, has taken another bold step in fulfilment of its corporate vision with the commissioning of one of its adopted schools in Amumara, Imo State, today Thursday.  

The Telco in a statement, said the rehabilitation of Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State as well as the donation of borehole and educational items to the primary school underscore its commitment to providing first-rate educational opportunities for underserved communities across the country.  

The firm’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Segun Ogunsanya, speaking on the Adopt-a-School initiative, said the company is passionate about creating real value for underprivileged children, its customers and other stakeholders.  

He said: “At Airtel, we seek to connect with our customers in various ways and our intervention in Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State attests to our commitment to provide empowerment for underprivileged children and also contribute to the development of our country.”  

Ogunsanya who was represented by the company’s Regional Operations Director, South Region, Godfrey Efeurhobo, said Airtel will continue to look for opportunities to partner with governments at various levels in the development of the education sector.  

As part of its Adopt-a-School programme, Airtel has renovated and commissioned schools in Lagos, Ogun and Cross Rivers states and also donated educational materials and other facilities such as borehole and generating sets.  

Airtel’s Adopt-a-School programme is a robust initiative that offers underprivileged children access to quality education in a conducive environment. It also provides them with all the materials for learning and study. As part of the programme, Airtel organises trainings for teachers of its adopted schools to ensure that a high teaching quality is always maintained.  

In her address, Commissioner of Education Imo State, Uche Ejiogu, commended Airtel for its “high powered show of patriotism” which has brought development to the school.  She said the government has therefore opened the doors to Airtel more than ever before “for more business relations geared towards expanding your reach to the benefit of Imo people.  

“More so, like Oliver Twist, we are asking that you extend your ‘Adopt-a-School’ project to other schools in the remote villages and communities in Imo State,” She said.  

 Commenting on the Adopt-a-School initiative of the telecom operator, Head Teacher of Community Primary School, Mrs. Felly Wulotu, said the teachers and pupils are very happy to see the impact of Airtel on the school. She praised Airtel for transforming the school and providing the pupils with needed learning materials, borehole and furnished classrooms.  

“Parents now feel happy to bring their children to this school because of the development they see here. There are good classrooms, text books, note books, uniforms, school bags and borehole for clean water. We appreciate Airtel for this generous contribution to our school,” she said.  

The commissioning ceremony was attended by Sole Administrator, Ezinihitte L.G.A, Dr. Kelechi Osuagwu; His Royal Highness, Eze Ositadinma Beneth Nwokocha; Chairman, Imo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs. Getrude Oduka; executives of Imo State National Union of Teachers (NUT); Dipo Jolaosho, Regional Marketing Manager, South, Airtel Nigeria; Chinda Manjor, CSR Manager, Airtel Nigeria and Erhumu Bayagbon, Media Relations Manager, Airtel Nigeria.    

It would be recalled that, last week, Airtel donated a borehole, school uniforms and other learning materials to St John’s Primary School, Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.  

 Speaking at the handing over of the borehole and presentation of the gifts to the pupils and staff of St. John’s Primary School, Ogunsanya, said the provision of safe and clean drinking water for the pupils and their teachers would keep the children within the school compound during school and also prevent them from water borne diseases.  

He had also noted that Airtel in all its activities has continued to strive not only in “providing world class telecommunications experience for customers, but also endeavour to support the social, economic development of communities in which it operates.”  

“In Airtel, we are passionate about partnering with organisations to improve the society. That is why our CSR initiative is committed to adoption of government owned primary schools nationwide,” he said.

Jolla: Ex-Nokia employees launch smartphone

The smartphone has interchangeable back panels that alter the phone's software

By Dave Lee 

A team of ex-Nokia employees has released the first handset running on a new smartphone platform.

The Jolla phone - pronounced Yol-la - is powered by open-source operating system Sailfish, but can run most apps designed for Google's Android platform.

The company has paired with a major Finnish network, and hopes to set up a similar deal with a UK operator.

Industry analysts said Jolla faced a challenge in taking on a market dominated by Google and Apple.

Just 450 Jolla phones will be available at launch on Wednesday evening, with the majority going to customers who have pre-ordered the device.

Co-founder Marc Dillon told the BBC the company was in the process of ramping up manufacturing.

He said the phone's ethos was to provide a more "open" approach to how people used their mobiles, a contrast to the relatively closed systems used on the iPhone and, to a lesser extent, Android devices.

"There's different opportunities for people to get apps form different places, different stores," he said.

"We've created a world-class platform. Users will be getting more choice."

The platform - originally called MeeGo - was developed by Nokia, but dumped in 2011 in favour of the company adopting the Windows Phone system.

Nokia released just one handset running the software, the N9-00.

Antti Saarnio, chairman and co-founder of Jolla, told the BBC in May that MeeGo - now called Sailfish - had not been given enough chance to succeed.

"Everybody felt so strongly that they wanted to continue," he said.

Large parts of the Sailfish code were open-source, which meant anyone could expand and adapt the platform, Mr Dillon said.

"We are ramping up our Jolla community right now.

"There's already a Sailfish website so that developers can come and contribute."

David v Goliath

According to CCS Insight, 81% of smartphones shipped globally from July to September ran Google's Android software. Apple's iOS accounted for 13%.

Smaller players such as Blackberry, Microsoft and Mozilla made up the numbers.

Analyst Geoff Blaber, from CCS, said while it might seem Jolla was taking on an impossibly large challenge by trying to muscle in, its strategy could pay off.

"It's easy to characterise this as David v Goliath," he told the BBC. "But the fact is if Jolla can maintain a competitive cost base, there is already an enthusiast base seeking this product. It could be successful."

But Mr Blaber added the handset was a means to an end, and that Jolla's long-term strategy was to create a operating system it could licence to other manufacturers.

"This is the challenge," he said.

"At the moment we have a situation where Android is utterly dominant. They've got to prove the software is competitive and it works."

Jolla may also be buoyed by support in its home country as a result of Microsoft's planned buy-out of Nokia.

Jolla co-founder Mr Dillion said he was getting "stopped everywhere I go".

"We're not trying to piggy-back, but we have seen a bump," said Mr Dillon. "We've had a lot of support in Finland."

Mr Blaber added: "This is the 'what might have been' scenario had Nokia not gone down the Microsoft road with Windows Phone."

Follow Dave Lee on Twitter @DaveLeeBBC

Source: BBC

Airtel picture

From left: Executive Vice Chairman Oshodi/Isolo LGA ,Honourable Daise Osho; Executive Idera Market Mafoluku; Honourable Ishola; Executive Chairman Oshodi/Isolo LGA Honourable Bolaji Muse Ariyo; The Elewu of Ewu Land Mafoluku, HRH Oba Adeshina Kuti ; Mrs Adeshina Kuti; Mrs Taiwo Arowojobe, Iya loja General Oshodi/ Isolo; Head Retail Showroom and Franchise, Airtel, Tolulope Tope-Awofeko Zonal Business Manager Airtel Ayo Oguranti at the commissioning of Airtel Express Shop, Oshodi recently.

From left: Honourable Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson; First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan and Airtel’s Director: Regulatory Affairs & Special Projects, Osondu Nwokoro at the International Telecommunication Union Telecom World 2013, held in Bangkok, Thailand, recently.

From left: Honourable Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson; First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan and Airtel’s Director: Regulatory Affairs & Special Projects, Osondu Nwokoro at the International Telecommunication Union Telecom World 2013, held in Bangkok, Thailand, recently.

Commissioner of Education, Ogun State, Barr. John Olusegun Odubela presenting books, uniforms and bag to a pupil of St. John’s Anglican Church School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State. With him are Airtel’s Regional Operations Director, Bayo Osinowo and Zonal Business Manager, Akinloye Adebisi during the handover of borehole and presentation of gifts to pupils of the school.

Commissioner of Education, Ogun State, Barr. John Olusegun Odubela presenting books, uniforms and bag to a pupil of St. John’s Anglican Church School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State. With him are Airtel’s Regional Operations Director, Bayo Osinowo and Zonal Business Manager, Akinloye Adebisi during the handover of borehole and presentation of gifts to pupils of the school.