Good morning Everyone! Hope you all had a good night’s sleep, I just wanted to clear something up before getting into this morning’s post. If anyone comments in an offensive manner or disrespects either myself, the blog or other fellow readers then the comments will be deleted. You all have the freedom to feel free and express the way you want but within certain limits. I will not tolerate rude or offensive people and I am sure the readers won’t either so please try to keep the comments respectful; you can always get your point across without trashing anyone.
Now that I cleared that up, on Saturday June 15th at 12pm you can now officially change your mobile network without having to change your number! This can happen in a few easy steps:
1) Update your personal data at your current network operator
2) Pay your current balance (at the new network operator)
3) Fill in the required application form available at the operator you wish to switch too
4) Send a free sms with the word port to 7678
That’s it! The number will be switched free of charge within the next 24 hours!
So, what do you guys think? Is this a good thing or bad thing? I know that a lot of companies will probably lose a lot of clients because of this but at the same time I know that if a client is satisfied with his current operator he would never switch, any thoughts?
I was browsing online and came across this article on Arabian Business stating that Dubai has launched a new mobile visa service where you can apply and receive your visa through your phone. The short-term plan is that within the next two years, all government entities withing the gulf region will start providing their services via mobile phones. I think that is a great idea since nowadays the majority can’t even go anywhere without their phones and everything is becoming so digital and virtual. It would be interesting to see Kuwaiti government imply such structure. I am sure life would be easier if everything was done by a click of our cell phones. What do you guys think? Would it make life easier? Would this work in the Gulf Region?
I just read on several popular tech blogs that BlackBerry is finally bringing BBM to iOS iPhone and Android this summer, so making it a multi-platform (not exclusive anymore) just like What’sApp. It took them so long to finally take this daring step, I think BlackBerry (previously known as RIM) has finally realized that the savage fight against Android and iOS is a losing one under these conditions.
Now I’m quite curious to know what made them take this step now? What are your thoughts? Will this help BBM regain lost users and popularity?
Update: BlackBerry announced that BBM for iOS & Android will be launched on 27th June.
It’s known that two minds are better than one, and three minds are better than two. Well how about when ten minds come together, what happens then? – Something revolutionary that’s for sure! I love it when people put their minds to good use and create something so practical, and so beneficial. I met and sat with a brilliant man, Ali Abulhasan, whom along with 9 other friends of his created a web app (TAP) that will make all our lives much easier. The three main points of Tap are:
Tap is a web app tool made for businesses and consumers in Kuwait.
For consumers, Tap provides fast, simple way to pay through smartphones, all in one place and absolutely free
For businesses, Tap provides an entire ecosystem that offers instant mobile presence for businesses to market, sell and get paid
I was given a full run through the app and it was so user-friendly, and brilliant in its own special way. Tap is open for registration now. The web app will be active starting May 6, 2013.
The salesman at Comtel has called me earlier today to tell me that Samsung Galaxy S4 has just arrived in store for KD240 (expensive just like I expected), it’s also available at Mobile 2000 and I guess it will arrive this week at X-Cite, Eureka and to the three operators (Zain, Viva and Wataniya Telecom) which will most likely offer it through a yearly contract. Myself and our old blog friend Tazmania (he says he misses you all) have went over to Comtel to play around with the S4 to get our initial impression. As expected, Samsung Galaxy S4 looks and feels like it’s older brother S3, they have mainly enhanced the hardware (processor, memory, display, camera, battery). It did feel faster and smoother, plus it was kinda lighter and thinner than S3.
Though the salesman wasn’t sure if their model was the 3G or 4G. I think it’s time to go for 4G since Zain and Viva are currently providing 4G LTE network. Also the fair price should be around KD200 so time is our friend here. Those who are in rush to get S4, just make sure it’s the 4G model and make sure there’s a valid warranty. The S4 prices are as follow:
The wait is almost over, I see that Zain and X-Cite have already started taking pre-orders for Samsung Galaxy S4 which is planned to be released on April 26 if I remember correctly, that’s next Friday. The price is around KD200, which is lower than what I originally expected but that’s great to know. Though before you decide to get one check whether they are selling the 3G or the 4G models, personally I’ll only go for the 4G one.
Currently, X-Cite and Zain are taking pre-orders but I also called Eureka and Al Babtain and they both said it will be available very soon.
Update: Samsung Galaxy S4 will officially be available in Kuwait on April 27th (next Saturday).
I just downloaded and installed iBadala on my Samsung Galaxy Note II, I’m glad they finally released the app freely for android phones after their successful iPhone version. iBadala helps you to search (in both languages Arabic & English) and find the contact number your need when ever you need it in moments. The user can browse a list of 30 categories contacts that include government agencies, restaurants, hotels, taxi’s, car rental, coffee shops and even florists in Kuwait.
Another great feature is that users can send their company contact information to be added to their phone directory’s database. Personally, I liked the user friendly interface and the simplicity of the design, this app is one of the few that I recommend. Get the app here [link]
I’m still getting many queries and doubts regarding the mobile number transfer between operators Zain, Viva & Wataniya Telecom (or should I say ooredoo?), first let me say that it’s 90% confirmed that mobile number transfer will start by mid of April (15th), so that’s only 2 weeks from today. Now I’ll briefly explain how the process will go and what are the rules and regulations so bear with me:
Client wishing to transfer his/her number must pay his phone bills if they exceed KD30.
Client should apply an application for the operator that he/she wishes to transfer to.
The transfer shall complete within 24hrs.
The operator cannot reject client’s right to transfer his/her number to any competing operator.
Client maintain his/her right to choose between pre-paid/post-paid plan in the new operator.
The charge for transfer is KD3 and the new operator can waive it (as in marketing purposes).
Client can apply for a transfer every 30 days.
Client will be given a new sim card with the same number when the transfer is completed.
Example: Say a client wants to transfer his/her mobile number from operator X to operator Y, then the client must go to the head office of operator Y and apply for a number transfer application making sure to bring along his/her valid civil ID card so that the transfer can complete within 24hrs. However, the client must make sure that his/her phone bill is settled (if it exceeds KD30) to operator X before he/she goes to operator Y, but if the bill is less than KD30 then the outstanding amount will be transferred to operator Y so that he/she can pay them later. The client must also be aware that remaining balance (as in minutes, messages, megabytes MB’s) in his/her old operator X will not be transferred/refunded by operator Y.
Let me also emphasize that the old operator must not charge the client for anything, also old operator cannot withhold the client even if his/her contract isn’t yet expired or completed, also it shouldn’t use client’s private information for any purposes what so ever. The only confusing part in my opinion is the tariff system, as I understood that once the client has completed transferring the number to another operator then he/she will be notified when making a call to another network. So any questions? Anyone’s excited?
Read the regulations in Arabic language here [link] رابط اللغة العربية
