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| N. I. G. E. R. I. A
N. E. T. W. O. R. K |
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| MTN
Subscribers Can Now Load From ATMs |
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MTN, Nigeria's
leading telecommunications operator, is offering its customers
a more innovative way to load their phones with credit with
the official launch of MTN eCharge in Lagos recently.
With eCharge, it is now possible for MTN subscribers who hold
InterSwitch debit or cash cards to use any Automated Teller
Machine (ATM) or point of sale (POS) terminal connected to the
InterSwitch network to load their phones or those of their loved
ones with any denomination of airtime.
Explaining how it works, Mike Ikpoki, Sales and Distribution
Executive, MTN said |
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“eCharge makes
airtime available in any denomination to MTN subscribers wherever
they may find themselves. They can buy airtime directly with their
ATM cards without the need to handle cash.
“All they need to do is to find an ATM or a point of sale terminal
connected to the InterSwitch network. They simply punch in the amount
they want and their phones are credited with that value of airtime.
They can even buy electronic airtime in the comfort of their bedrooms
via SMS.”
A major difference from what obtained before the arrival of eCharge,
according to Ikpoki, is that subscribers using the solution are instantly
and directly credited with the appropriate amount unlike the previous
virtual top up solutions which involved a paper print-out with the
recharge PIN, which the subscribers have to manually load.
With eCharge, a subscriber only receives an on-screen confirmation
of the transaction and print out from the ATM machine with such information
as the ATM terminal identification and address, transaction reference
number, date of purchase, time of purchase and instructions for issue
resolution. They also receive an SMS containing basically the same
information.
Already the solution has been activated on the systems of major banks
in Nigeria such as Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, GT Bank,
Intercontinental Bank, Skye Bank, Spring Bank, UBA, Union Bank and
Unity Bank.
Ikpoki said efforts are ongoing to complete the activation of the
novel solution in the remaining banks in the country adding that by
the end of quarter two 2009 subscribers, would be able to purchase
airtime from any part of the world over the Internet.
“This is another industry-first and we are extremely happy to
usher this development into Nigeria's telecommunications industry
in partnership with Nigeria's foremost electronic transaction switching
and payment processing company, InterSwitch,” said Wale Goodluck,
Corporate Services Executive, MTN.
“This is another demonstration of our resolve to relentlessly
explore innovative ways of making life easy for our teeming subscribers.” |
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| Glo
Launches Recharge Cards In UK, Ireland |
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Glo Mobile subscribers
who travel to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland can now
recharge their phones while there. This follows the commencement
of sale of Glo recharge cards in the two countries.
A statement by Glo Gateway, Globacom's international gateway arm,
said the Glo Recharge card being sold in the United Kingdom and
Ireland is a Globacom network credit voucher which subscribers roaming
in the two countries can buy and top up their phones.
Nigerians in the Diaspora can also purchase the cards and send the
PINs to their friends, families and associates in Nigeria on the
same Glo Mobile network.
Ibrahim Fadipe, Head of Glo Gateway, said the cards are similar
to the Glo recharge cards used in Nigeria, with the only visible
difference being the indication of recharge value in pound sterling.
He noted that the new cards are strictly for sale in the UK and
are available in major retail outlets in that country including
all Paypoint outlets.
Fadipe stated that the cards could be used while roaming or from
Nigeria to credit a single mobile telephone line. The cards are
in £2.50, £5 and £10 denominations.
“The £2.50 card has a N530 credit value, while the £5
denomination has N1, 100 credit value on it. The £10 has N2,
250,” Fadipe explained.
On why the cards were launched in the United Kingdom, Fadipe stated,
“We are driven by the passion to offer our subscribers easy
and convenient telecom services. The sale of recharge cards in the
UK addresses the need of subscribers who may want to top up their
credit while roaming. It also underlies our 'we live where you live”
coverage philosophy which is part of our strategy to make our products
and services easily accessible.”
Fadipe noted that Globacom is also a brand that values relationships
and strives to help build family and friendship ties among its subscribers.
“Nigerians resident in the UK can buy the cards and top up
their loved ones' airtime back home from wherever they live in the
UK,” he explained.
He added that the Glo recharge cards enhance access to first class
voice clarity, superior value added services, accurate billing and
timing.
Globacom's roaming services are available to both postpaid and prepaid
subscribers. The company had in December 2004 become the first network
in Nigeria to introduce Prepaid Roaming. Before the launch of the
service, roaming facility was enjoyed only by postpaid subscribers
in Nigeria.
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| Zain
Nigeria Customers To Enjoy Free 1monthInternet Access |
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Numerous Zain Nigeria
customers who responded to the recent launch of the company's 3G
data services by activating the service on their computers and handsets
are in for some freebies as the company has announced the commencement
of a one-month free Internet service to all its mobile Internet
users.
Beginning from February 16 to March 15, 2009, Zain Internet users
will surf the net, access mobile friendly sites, download music
and video, make video calls and generally enjoy the Internet technology,
Emeka Oparah, Zain's Head of Corporate Communications stated on
the latest offer.
He said the demand for the company's Internet data card and Internet
enabled handsets since the launch of the 3G Data Service on January
28 this year has been tremendous and “we thought we should
encourage this demand by easing subscription for one month in appreciation
to the response”.
Throwing more light on the growing demand, Oparah explained that
the flexibility of usage gives it a major edge over competition,
because Zain Mobile Internet Service Plans gives users the option
to choose their usage preference namely; Pay As You Use; Zain Day;
Zain Lite; Zain Plus and Zain Max, where the difference lies in
the total number of bytes, hours of usage and cost.
'Zain Day' is designed for customers who desire to have access to
the Internet on a 24 hours basis, while Zain Lite is designed for
those that need to have access to Internet and emails monthly with
their mobile handset.
'Zain Plus' is for subscribers who require moderate Internet speed
using the GPRS/EDGE technology and 'Zain Max' is designed for those
who desire to have high speed Internet connectivity in Lagos, Abuja
and Port Harcourt where the 3G network is available.
At the end of the free period, subscribers will have the opportunity
to pick their preferred price plans upon activation of the service.
He said the availability of the Internet service to its subscribers
across the country was another major boost to the record uptake
of the service because “all users can conveniently experience
the service, no matter where they are in Nigeria.”
Oparah added that because, except for video calling which is currently
available to customers in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt for now,
all other Internet-based services are available wherever the customer
may be in Nigeria.
To enjoy the free Zain Internet offer, customers who prefer to activate
the service on their computer should simply purchase Data cards
and a data SIM card at any of the company's retail outlets across
the country.
For those who prefer the use of their mobile handsets, all that
is required is to get their SIM cards activated for data services
via SMS by simply texting the string 'internet<space>phone
type<space>phone model' to 232, and follow the instructions
contained in the SMS response.
Customers are also encouraged to take advantage of the Zain Big
Bang Promo which provides subscribers an opportunity to own an Internet-ready
HP Laptop through the HP/Zain Data card bundle promotion financed
by Diamond Bank.
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| Win
N Rule: Winner Distributes Free Glo Lines |
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A winner of Peugeot
307XT, in the Kaduna edition of the Glo Easier and Bigger
Win N Rule promo held recently, Adesola Samuel Bamidele, was
at his generous best as he gave out free Glo lines to neighbours
and passers-by when Globacom officials visited his Ugwa Pana,
Sabo Tasha, Kaduna residence to deliver the car to him. Adesola,
a sales executive with Challarams Plc, Kaduna, insisted that
the beneficiaries of the free Glo lines must remove the SIMs
of other networks in their handset and
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activate their new Glo
lines, promising that every month; he would give out 20 of such
lines free of charge to whoever wished to be on the Glo network.
As neighbours and passers-by queued up to take the free Glo lines,
the elated owner of the latest model of Peugeot 307XT D-Sign explained
that the free lines he gave out was the only way he could show appreciation
to Globacom for the life-changing gift the company gave to him.
“I'm not giving out this lines because am rich. I'm doing
this as a mark of appreciation to Globacom for the life- changing
gift of a brand new car given to me. I drive the official car of
my company but now I own a brand new Peugeot 307 car. I promise
that every month, I will give out 20 Glo lines free of charge so
as to encourage more people to come to the Glo network and benefit
from the company like I have today”, he said.
The entire neighbourhood of Dan Quarter, Railway Estate also in
Kaduna South went agog as Tunde Olusola Isaiah, a tailor who lives
in the area took delivery of the brand new Kia Rio car he too won
at the Friday draw.
Olusola, who drives an old model Toyota Corolla, in his reaction,
urged his neighbours to get hooked to the Glo network to benefit
from the numerous goodies on offer by the network.
Maduabuchi Nwankwo, who won a 5KVA noiseless SDMO generator told
residents of Yoruba Street who gathered to rejoice with him that
whoever intended to rule his or her world should hasten up and get
a Glo line, pointing out that the physical delivery of the generator
to him at his residence has proved beyond doubt that the whole exercise
was real.
Isaac Joseph, a Cartography graduate of the Kaduna Polytechnic,
while receiving his Kia Rio from the Northern music icon, Sani Danja,
said that he regarded the Glo Win N Rule promo as an empowerment
of the African youth.
“Glo is empowering all Africans. The best thing that has ever
come out of the black race is Globacom and I'm proud to associate
with the company which is the pride of the African continent”,
he said.
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