Mobilink Genie pioneers Mobile Commerce in Pakistan
'Pakistan Times' Business & Commerce Desk

KARACHI: Mobilink, the country's market leader in cellular communication with more than 32 million customers and part of Orascom Telecom, today launched 'Mobilink Genie' a futuristic service of privileges and conveniences heralding the onset of mobile commerce in Pakistan. Partner financial institutions were also present on the occasion.

Mobilink Genie is a mobile payment solution enabling Mobilink customers to use their mobile phones to buy a combination of products of their choice and pay for a mix of utility and general services.

The program is in compliance with regulatory guidelines and safe for transactions; moreover, it has been hailed as a new and innovative chapter in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan.

Bilal Munir Sheikh, Vice President Marketing, Mobilink while talking to media at the launching of Mobilink Genie, said "When it comes to customer care, privileges and services, ours is a continuing journey and not a destination; and therefore, we keep our customers at the top-of-mind at all times, planning and thinking round the clock to come up with unique packages, all these being industry-firsts and working harder to make the best better."

"Mobilink Genie, a pioneering effort in mobile commerce by the Company in collaboration with prominent financial institutions in Pakistan, is going to be an exhilarating customer experience that will further reshape the lives of people in their day-to-day lives.

Imagine having the freedom to conveniently manage some of the necessary home chores with the click of a finger on your mobile phones," he added.

The Mobilink Genie includes instant service on all GPRS/Java supporting hand-held devices covering payment of utility bills including electricity, gas, telephone; payment of Indigo bill & load or recharge any Jazz account.

In due course in time, options like ordering your favorite deal from McDonald's and other eateries, booking airline tickets, confirming and paying for your flights, groceries and home shopping, paying fees of schools, universities, clubs and retail payments of restaurants and fuel will also be available on Mobilink Genie.

As proven by successful deployment of Mobile commerce solutions in developing nations like Kenya and Philippines, Pakistan too is ready to graduate into the future of commerce. With Mobilink, 92% un-banked Pakistani population can have the privilege of accessing financial services from their mobile phones.

Providing services such as the Mobilink Genie to the masses will change lives for the better and fuel the growth and development of our economy.

As quality and costs of mobile communication improves, the customer continues to look for conveniences, value-added services, privileges and perks to enhance their experience of communicating with people.

The advent of mobile commerce by Mobilink Genie, a milestone in the annals of telecommunication in Pakistan, will indeed prove to be loaded with surprises as the range of services gets wider and technologically friendly.

About Mobilink: Mobilink is an Orascom Telecom Group company and is Pakistan's leading cellular service provider with a subscriber growth of 104% in 2006.

The company has achieved an unprecedented customer base of over 34 million. Mobilink provides the most extensive network coverage footprint across Pakistan through an integrated technology infrastructure in more than 6,000 cities, towns, villages, and countless remote destinations, including International Roaming in 127 countries through 300 partner operators.

The company directly employs over 5,000 people and has the largest distribution network with 200,000 outlets across Pakistan. Mobilink's corporate social responsibility program contributes significantly in key areas of health, education, social uplift and cultural development causes in Pakistan.

The company is the official cellular service of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Mobilink is the only corporate in Pakistan to issue a 'high-yield' bond worth US$ 250 million in the International Market and has portrayed a positive image of the country as a secure destination for business activity.

Mr. Hasnain Sheikh - CEO Inov8 "Inov8 is extremely proud of exclusively launching the GENIE service with Mobilink; a truly secure, one of a kind, mobile payments / commerce system in Pakistan.

Everything from multiple bill/utility payments, credit card, mobile bill & insurance premium payments, prepaid airtime top-up, selling of new micro insurance products and a number of other services are available from your Mobilink phone, anytime and anywhere."

Mr. Naeem Siddiqui - Cards Business Head, Citibank "Mobilink Genie brings mobile-commerce and banking services right to the consumer's doorstep and provides integrated services such as utility bill payments via customer's credit card.

We believe that the Genie service will transform our customer's experience, being the first mobile-phone based service of its kind in Pakistan offering instant payment solutions to Citibank credit card customers using their mobile phones.

Citi Pakistan is delighted to be a part of the Mobilink Genie launch and we look forward to providing our customers with innovative services that add convenience to their lifestyle" Mr. Muneer Kamal - President & CEO KASB "Genie represents the beginning of a new era of mobile commerce.

Genie compliments both Mobilink and the member Banks, while providing service excellence to both our customers.

Mobilink Genie will revolutionize the outlook of mobile commerce and KASB Bank is proud to be one of the pioneers bringing about this change".

Mr. Ghufran Atta Khan - Head of Retail & Consumer Banking, Atlas Bank "Atlas Bank is committed to be at the forefront of delivering innovative solutions to it's customers.

Our partnership with Mobilink for the launch of Genie, the next generation payments solution, will deliver an unparalleled, secure and convenient service that is the first step towards this commitment".

Mr. Yahya Hamid - CIO & Head of Product Development, Adamjee Insurance "Adamjee Insurance is at the forefront of innovation of retail products and customer accessibility.

We are proud to be the strategic partners for Mobilink Genie, a technological revolution in the communication industry which will delight the customers in more ways than one.

Now all customers of Mobilink can access our range of new and exciting Adamjee Catch products and get insured instantly." ●