iShop..you shop..we all shop…

[My flu doesnt seem to quit...i thought i'd blog an entry atleast right away before everyone accuses me of being a slacker ]

In a welcome change, as opposed to the “we sell everything under the sun” concept of many local online shops…(giftstoeast, beliscity,etc) I recently ran across a new, Lahore based online shop called “ishop” (www.ishop.com.pk) that sells only laptops…

I like vertical, speciality shops, just because I know that the entity Im buying from actually knows something about the product they are selling, and from iShop’s website, this definetly seems to be the case. A very well designed UI enables me to quickly zoom in on a few options and then pick my final laptop. They also have this nifty “edge enabled” category that lets me pick out a laptop that I can use with a high speed gprs-edge service like Telenor’s. They also have very useful guides explaining the ins and outs of laptops. Plus they have alienware laptops!!! (wow!)

If i had to pick between the well known beliscity, and the new iShop, I would go for iShop hands down.

Check it out at:

http://www.ishop.com.pk

down with flu

Like alot of people in Karachi, I too have been struck by the most recent incarnation of the flu…which means i am in bed for a few days…I will try and return to blogging by middle of this week, where I will cover a bunch of happenings, and write about an innovative idea coming out of a company based in ISB….

PS: wordpress btw seems to be a bit buggy this week…reposting this post, this was supposed to go up on Sunday the 19th of Nov.

PTCL’s Triple play back on track?

PEMRA (Pakistan’s electronic media regulation authority) recently gave PTCL an IPTV license, and rumors/news from the market says that PTCL has restarted trials of its triple play system. After several hiccups and misfires could this finally be the real launch of their triple play project? If this is so, lookout for all the MNC IT firms (IBM, HP,etc) line themselves outside PTCL’s door to offer their services and solutions…wait a sec ops, yeah, I heard that lines already been formed hmmmm..interesting. The next 2-3 months should tell us if this project will ever reach our homes.

Personally, I think the triple play concept is as useless as a cordless phone today. Everyone doesn’t need a cordless phone, because they have cellphones. In a world where TV OnDemand is starting to take off , you have fantastically fast wireless technologies (3G, EDGE, WiMax) , offering services on copper (already triple play pushes its limits) , and one copper wire would not exactly be enticing to consumers.

Also, Pakistani consumers are now smart. we all have 3 sims, 2 cellphones, and different providers for our cable TV and internet. We diversify as a rule to maintain a certain service level for ourselves. If i relied on PTCL for all three of my services, and my copper line went down (which it does alot time) now how much would I have to pay the line man off now to fix it?!!

GPRS based Net banking

Saudi Pak Bank recently launched their internet banking service with the usual set of features, ie you can check your account balance, last few transactions,etc etc. Whats different though about this effort compared to those of other banks is that Saudi pak allows you to do all this on your phone as well through a WAP site. This is a simple extension but brilliant for people on the move alot of the time, (that would be me). The simple fact that i can check my bank balance while parked waiting for the light to turn green makes me happy

So, good effort, great idea, hope it actually works…will post a follow up when i get to try it. I did try to access the online demo, which failed miserably to load and was an “exe” file. Probably a flash file. (Very smart…distribute exectuables on the internet through your banking site…that gives a very secure feeling to internet users)

More here:

https://www.saudipaktransact.com/

Folio3…the right idea, at the right place at the right time?

I have asked many entrepreneurs, what pitfalls they have to deal with when they outsource to Pakistan. Besides the strikes, poor electricity/water/phone/internet situation/long vacations/real lack of skilled and responsible labour the main factor is overcoming the communication gap. Most Local teams still do not work with the clarity and urgency as the foreign/US based team, unless its the same guy leading both teams…the usual 3 months in Pakistan/9 months in US model for the CEOs of these US based startups. One cannot sit in the US and concentrate on business development/value generation/VC funding, while expecting the local office to understand the grand vision. Most entrepreneurs have stated that Pakistan needs to make a better case for outsourcing. Still, you can’t beat the numbers. If you can successfully outsource, you save a bunch load of $$$$$. If you start in PK and move out thats a different story, but we are discussing the more frequent situation where a startup gets US based VC funding and comes home looking to setup shop to save some $$$ and provide jobs to other Pakistanis.

Some companies though, have gotten outsourcing right and have been doing a good job overcoming these issues, though the ones that have are few and far between, (Five Rivers, Techlogix, TRG, ex-Clickmarks). Now, whats interesting about Folio3, a new outfit thats been around for a few months, is that its not really a new outfit. A few savvy Silicon valley based Pakistani entrepreneurs have gotten together, (essentially the Clickmarks management team), gotten some really smart guys on their advisory board and launched Folio3. The idea it seems is to make the entire outsourcing lifecyle and make it into a service product for startups in the US. And startups always need to save money, but not everyone wants to put up with the headache of outsourcing to a third country. It may save you lots of money but that means its also a difficult task, no walk in the park. So these guys come in and say, we’ll handle the tough bit. Its a brilliant idea, the only thing we would need to see is if they can handle the capacity and grow the company and build a strong local team.

With the US economy growing, and Pakistan becoming a relevant ally to the US in the War on Terror, and the VC funds pouring back into Hi Tech startups, this might be the best time for companies like Folio3 to get business from the US and send it home. Another Cressosft without the tragic end? We should all hope so…

(PS I do not work for Folio3, nor am I paid/endorsed by ANY company/person/entity I mention in my blogs. I am not paid to blog, and all opinions are my personal opinions not linked to my workplace or other people)

Apple Pakistan?

Spider this month had an interesting cover story, “Take a bite, is there any hope for Apple in Pakistan”, which I read. Journalists ofcourse, love the Mac.
So is there any hope?Umm, no.

I love Apple, I really do. I spend hours on their website, and they have everything , and I mean everything right when it comes to consumer level computing devices. If they stick to their current strategy, they wont make it in Pakistan, outside of their niche market of the advertising/media agencies, and maybe a slim percentage of high-end laptop users, and ofcourse the iPod and the peripheral market around it.The iPod market will grow for sure.

But Apple doesnt seem to agree with me, (yay!). To my joy and that of others, we now have an Apple store in Karachi!! Run by Bawany Technologies the store is located on Kh-e-Ittehad and there is an offshoot smaller store on Zamzama as well. Do visit and drool….

Going Bedouin

If you are an entrepreneur or an aspiring one ready to launch an IT/software/solutions/consultancy company, you need to read the blog post by Greg Olson titled “Going Bedouin”. A excerpt from the blog is below :

“By focusing almost exclusively on service-based infrastructure options, a business could operate as a sort of neo-Bedouin clan – with workers as a roaming nomadic tribe carrying laptops & cell phones and able to set up shop wherever there is an Internet connection, chairs, tables, and sources of caffeine. “
The concept really hits home, essentially its saying the “road warrior” philosophy is the way to go for small outfits of 15-20 person companies providing knowledge services.

I work out of a real office, but I dont really see it often nowadays. I loved reading the post since guess what, I carry a laptop, a cellphone+headset, wireless modem (while i twiddle my thumbs waiting for hotspots to appear), all in a backpack. Most of our apps are online and web based, like our CRM and email/IM systems. Now i just need to dump my car, find a decent sport bike that wraps me in an environmental suit (being in Karachi..you get it right), and that way I spend less time on the road and more time working on my laptop.

Full blog post here:

http://www.charterstreet.com/2006/02/going_bedouin.html

Bank Islami implements Millennium Software’s HR system

Bank Islami recently became the latest customer of Millennium software’s HRMS system. Millennium software is a well known software house, with a few products aimed at the local market.Its known to be very comprehensive and tested in the local environment (which is why probably Bank Islami selected the system). Their HRMS is claimed (by them ofcourse) to be the most pervasive HRMS software in the Pakistani market, and is running at about 15 companies nationwide. Aimed at banks and large corporates, its based on Oracle, and claimed to be “web enabled”, note that does not mean web based, which usually is a pre requisite for most software today. No word on how compatible it is with other ERPs, modules,etc.

The software is based on Oracle and oracle forms, with probably some reports available online. No word yet if they are porting the software to be a complete real web based, 3 tier application. Probably not anytime soon. However the software is a great example of the fact that if you do your requirements engineering right with proper market research, and that translates into the right functionality, clients wont care about the technology in the back, (atleast not right away!)

I must add though that millennium has a very unprofessional website, which i discovered while looking for information on this system. In places the letter “u” has been used instead of “you”. I hope they dont use that website to entice HR heads towards their software or solutions.

Link below to the (terribly designed) product website:

http://www.millsoft.com.pk/lower_hris.htm