We have just updated our page presenting statistics about mobile networks in Nigeria. The information on that page is sourced from the NCC website.

What is significant is that Etisalat has moved several steps up into the exclusive list of top 5 mobile operators in Nigeria. The 0809 network now occupies number 5 slot with 1,835,870 active subscribers, trailing Visafone (2,533,812 active subscribers). Multilinks Telkom follows Etisalat closely with 1,820,750 active subscribers.

On the heels of Glo’s Biiig Dash promo allowing prepaid subscribers to make unlimited Glo to Glo calls for only N40 daily, Glo sent out an SMS to its post-paid subscribers as follows:

Dear customer,

Very soon we are launching “Biiig Dash” on post paid so that you can enjoy unlimited Glo to Glo free calls on your existing post paid line. Happy talking.

Glo

Here are few screenshots of the B7320 in action:

Main pane of the Samsung WizPro (what TouchWiz is called here) home layout

The contacts pane of the WizPro home layout

The music pane of the WizPro home interface

The photo pane on the WizPro home interface

The shortcut pane of the WizPro home interface

MobilityNigeria.com in Pocket Internet Explorer

Watching a movie full-screen

Backing up and synchronising contacts, calendar, images, videos and documents with the Microsoft MyPhone

Internet banking: Pocket Internet Explorer handles secure sites well

GSM mobile operator, GloMobile, has announced a promo that allows their subscribers to make free on-net calls for a daily rental of N40.00 only. Basically, Glo subscribers can call other Glo lines all they want for just N40 daily. Exciting prospects, we say.

Dubbed “Glo Biiiig Dash”, GloMobile claims to be revolutionalising the telecoms sector with this promo.

But is it really that revolutionary?

For example, another GSM operator Etisalat has been running a promo that allows their own subscribers get back every minute spent on-net in calls. Basically, this means that Etisalat subscribers are making free on-net calls too – and without a daily rental or any other fee.

Perhaps, the Glo Biiiig Dash promo is in reality a response to Etisalat’s? Anyways, we agree that the competition is good.

To activate your Glo line for the Biiiig Dash promo, dial *100*1*1# from your phone. The rental of N40 will be deducted from your airtime daily and you can call all your contacts and Glo for as long as you want without attracting any further charges.

A unit of the Samsung B7320 QWERTY smartphone arrived at the office today and we have been all over it. We can tell you upfront that if you carry one of these around, expect people to ask, “Is that a Blackberry?”

Samsung B7320

Here are the specifications of the device:

Specifications

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard [upgradeable to 6.5]
Size and Weight: 111.8 x 59.6 x 12.6 mm. 110 gm
Display: 65, 000 colors. 320 x 240 pixels, 2.4 inches
Processor: Qualcomm MSM 7201A 528 MHz processor
Data: GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA (3.6 Mbps)
Camera: 3.2 MP, 2048×1536 pixels, autofocus
Memory: 100mb + microSD slot (no card in retail box)
Connectivity: USB. Bluetooth
Text Input: QWERTY keyboard
Mesaging: SMS, MMS, EMail, Instant Messaging
Web Browser: Pocket Internet Explorer
Others: Wi-Fi. Video call with secondary VGA videocall camera. Office documents viewing and editing. PDF viewing. Built-in modem.

A few first impressions:

1. very lightweight and handy
2. QWERTY keyboard is good, with shortcuts to browser, messages, camera, and contacts
3. pairing with the only Bluetooth headset we have available ed fine
4. on the downside, it comes with only Pocket Internet Explorer (aargh!!!), but we installed Skyfire and set that as default browser immediately. Do you blame us?
5. the TouchWiz home implementation by Samsung is a joy to use and very handy
6. built-in task manager assigned to the home key (long press)
7. built-in modem (internet sharing) works fine

We will have a more detailed review published ASAP, but don’t let the excitement eat you up too much. This baby has got both functionality and the cool factor. Did we mention that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg too?

If you have specific things you would love for us to cover in our review, please post away in the comments section below. In the meantime, we are off to torturing this cute baby the way we know how to do.

Don’t go away!

There was a recent discussion in which I pointed out that while some phones are value for money – highly capable while being affordable – such devices still feature compromises here and there. I was reminded of that discussion today when I handled the Windows Mobile Samsung i780, a phone I once used.

The i780 is one of the best value for money devices I have ever used (take a look at the review here, and a head-to-head with the legendary Sony Ericsson P1i here).

The i780 cost far less than its fellow WinMo-powered smartphones and packed a wallop. The major compromise on the phone, however, was its camera. Sporting a 2 mega-pixel camera without a flash, the camera was more of a bonus.

That notwithstanding, the i780 is an excellent device. I played with it again today and found that over a year after I sold my unit this device is still very much in the game.

Samsung B7320

1. Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
2. Nokia E63
3. Samsung B7320

All the above are smartphones that feature pretty much what most users will need. Of course, the compromises are there, but these phones are almost faultless. Anyone will be hard-pressed to find phones with all their capabilities and at their costs. They are all sub-fifty thousand in cost.

Of course, with a lot of people (myself inclusive) running more and more on a tight budget, such devices are bound to get noticed more than ever. Personally, I am currently eyeing the Samsung B7320. Could it be because of nostalgia for its older brother, the i780, or could it be because I am really not inspired by Symbian at the moment? Who knows? Who cares?

Feel free to make your nominations in the comment box below. If you are planning on changing your smartphone this season, what budget feature-packed smartphone are you ogling?

MTN has reviewed the cost of their 3G USB modems down to N8,500. All bundle packages still cost the same though, but if you have been wanting an MTN USB modem, this is a good time to get it.

According to the guys at GSMArena.com, Sony Ericsson has confirmed that the XPERIA X1 will not receive any official upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5. Bad news.

The X1 is a device with great potentials, and fans have been hoopeful of an official upgrade. If you really do want WinMo 6.5 on your X1 so bad, please take a look at some of our existing articles on the Xperia X1 and Windows Mobile 6.5 ROMs, some of which are listed below.

Related Articles:

• Sony Ericsson X1 Review – Part 1 (User Interface)
• HTC’s Sense UI on the Xperia X1?
• Best Custom ROM for Xperia X1
• Do You Have a Windows Phone or a Windows Mobile Device?

News Item via GSMArena

In choosing to buy a mobile phone or mobile computer (as I choose to call smartphones these days), a Manufacturers Warranty should be a very important consideration.

The manufacturer’s warranty is your insurance that if something should good wrong with the device you purchased (usually within 12 months) the manufacturer will carry out any repairs needed, and where the device is beyond repair, a replacement will be issued.

Note that the warranty is only valid if the said fault is not as a result your carelessness or abuse. The warranty covers non-damages only.

Contrary to what some consumers would like to do, a manufacturer’s warranty is a guarantee from the manufacturer to you. It is not a guarantee from the retailer.

For example, if you purchase a phone from an i-Cell store, usually the i-Cell warranty specifies that you can fall back on i-Cell should the phone develop a fault. But if you purchase a Nokia phone with a manufacturer’s warranty from ABC Stores, should the phone develop a fault, you turn to Nokia; not ABC.

Please be sure to read your warranty terms, so you know exactly what to do should you need to fall back on it someday. Of course, at the point of purchase be sure to confirm that your purchase has an official warranty covering it.

There is no point venting at the retailer if the warranty terms do not specify that the retailer is a support channel. While as a consumer you may be aggrieved, your grievance is being channeled in the wrong direction if you do not follow the guidelines of the warranty. The retailer did good selling you a device covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. Now take up your case with the manufacturer or their appointed agents.

For information purposes, i-Cell provides warranty service on devices from Nokia, Sony Ericssson, HTC, Samsung and Motorola. Nokia also has its own care centres on ground. But be sure to check the warranty cards and pamphlets included in your sales package for details.

Recommended Reading

• The Manufacturer Presence and Support Factor

The news of the proposed sale of Zain has been around for a while. However, the CEO of Zain’s African operations claims that Zain Africa is not for sale.

Sounds odd. Zain Africa is not an autonomous unit apart from the global Zain operations. If Zain global is selling, surely wouldn’t this affect Zain Africa? But the CEO seems to know this. Hear him:

Zain Africa isn’t for sale. We are focused on our objective of becoming a top-10 mobile player globally by 2011. There is absolutely no lack of focus in Africa. There is always great appetite for expansion…

Whether shareholders decide to sell is entirely up to them. Shareholder matters are outside the scope of my responsibility.

Ahem. Looks like Zain Africa is up for sale. The last time we checked, that’s what the shareholders said.

Sources: The Punch newspaper; All Africa

The excellent version 10 beta of Opera Mobile browser has now found its way to Windows Mobile devices. Initially released with a version for Symbian devices only, WinMo users can now browse to www.opera.com/mobile/ to download their copy.

Nokia’s worst kept secret is finally out in the open. From a post on The Really Mobile Project site:

This evening, at the official N900 meet-up in London, the Maemo marketing team revealed that Nokia plan to drop Symbian from the entire ‘top end’ N-Series range of handsets in favour of Maemo by 2012.

Thanks to EyeBeeKay for the heads-up!

Read the full news item: Nokia dropping Symbian from N-Series by 2012