Dawlance emerges as Pakistan’s 7th Most Favorite Brand

High Quality and Reliability are the two key hallmarks of Dawlance Brand which led 

to this momentous success

Brand Elections 2010 recently held an award distribution ceremony at a local hotel in Karachi where Pakistan’s top ten brands based on consumer polls were presented with accolades.

The survey results of Brand Elections revealed that Dawlance has been voted as the 7^th most favorite Brand of Pakistan. Mr. Hasan Jamil, Head of Marketing, Dawlance proudly received the award from Mr. Nick Papagregoriou, CEO MEMRB GLOBAL at the ceremony on behalf of his organization. Senior management of Dawlance was also present at the event. 

  

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jamil said, “We are proud to be a Pakistani brand. Being the largest Pakistani brand, we have always been caring about our customers’ needs. High Quality and reliability are the two key hallmarks of Dawlance brand which led to this momentous success. We are grateful to all those Pakistanis who have continuously trusted Dawlance home appliances to improve their lifestyle.  In future, Dawlance will ensure that it brings the latest technology for its valuable consumers at affordable prices and keeps the wow factor intact. This tremendous achievement would not have been possible without the efforts of all the members of the Dawlance Family. Congratulations to each and every single member of our group on achieving this milestone.”

Brand Elections 2010 is a combined initiative of global research agency MEMRB, Bulls Eye Communication and Information Resources Inc. (IRI). Built on authentic research data of Consumer Multimedia Index (CMi) which is the first of its kind and the largest single source data in Pakistan, Brand Elections utilized a most robust and representative 20,000 sample across 50 cities across SECs (Socio-Economic Classes) of Urban Pakistan. CMi aims to become the marketing industry’s ‘common currency’ given its many firsts. The imperatives of which include universal representation, reliability of results, quality assurance mechanisms and wide information coverage.

More than 3,500 brands took part in the process. The selection of categories was aimed to ensure that it represents all walks of life. This Brand Elections study showcases the true hold that brands have over the urban population of Pakistan!

Dawlance has always aimed to offer products and services that match the consumers’ needs and help them lead a better and more comfortable lifestyle. Dawlance products offer real value for money by combining the latest technology with contemporary designs. Success of Dawlance at Brand Elections 2010 reaffirmed the fact that Dawlance products are a perfect combination of practicality and aesthetics.

 

Nokia Collaborates With United Mobile To Open State-Of-The-Art Outlet

Nokia live devices, Ovi information and Nokia Care counter are key highlights of the shop

Nokia’s commitment towards Pakistan has been asserted by the inaugural of United Mobile’s Outlet in Karachi today where Nokia devices and services will be available to all walk in consumers. This state-of-the-art outlet marks Nokia’s entrance in retail part of the supply chain in Karachi giving them greater control over offering consumers a better Nokia experience. This outlet will bring a complete range of Nokia mobility solutions to Pakistani consumers. United Mobile owns and will manage the outlet operations.  

The retail outlet has a Live devices counter, which is designed to provide customers with a complete mobility experience. At the Live devices counter, the customers would be able to check out a wide range of Nokia products. Trained staff including Ovi activators will also help visitors download Nokia applications and games, as well as learn more about Ovi Store and Solutions. A separate Nokia Care Counter and Nokia Service Desk are also available at the outlet that will facilitate the consumers with devices issues and queries. The outlet will facilitate an interactive and informative shopping experience.

Located in Star City Shopping Mall, Opposite Star Cinema, Abdullah Haroon Road, Karachi, the outlet was inaugurated by Abdul Majid Haji Mohammad, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI).

Speaking on the occasion, Haji Mohammad said, “Partnership of United Mobile and Nokia to launch this unique outlet in Karachi is a positive step. The initiative will serve as a benchmark for other mobile phone manufacturers in Pakistan to consider investment in retail business and take advantage of ever-growing telecom industry of our country. I’m certain that this outlet will see more than the expected success. I also hope Nokia Pakistan would continue to achieve other significant industry firsts in time to come.” 

The outlet will feature the latest range of Nokia offerings, including handsets, ring tones, graphics, games, software and exclusive Nokia merchandise.

"Our consumers are the focal point for all our strategies and decisions and this outlet is yet another example of our being a consumer focused company.  We are constantly looking to enhance the consumer's experience with the Nokia brand. The new United Mobile outlet will provide consumers with an interactive and informative shopping experience, and the opportunity to experience the product before making a purchase decision. We are confident that this outlet will redefine mobile retailing experience for Karachi consumers," said Arif Shafique, Head of Sales, Nokia Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The outlet has a simple-to-navigate setup with open doorways and low-glare lighting. The high-tech display terminals and dedicated areas for imaging, smart, multimedia, business and entry phones make it easy for consumers to bring themselves up to date with the latest technologies and trends in the mobile industry.

 

TAG Heuer F1 Lady Steel & Ceramic by Maria Sharapova

Women don’t experience time the way men do. Men cut it up into fractions and sequences in order to visualize it, while women see it as a circular system, a poetic flow, an eternal return. For men, time is linear. For women, it is cyclical.

To please women, then, every object must be bestowed with the fullness, softness and emotion it deserves. Generosity and tenderness are essential. Design, not function, pleasure, not utility — these are paramount values. A watch doesn’t just tell time; it must be an object of pure seduction.

When TAG Heuer asked tennis superstar Maria Sharapova to help design its new TAG Heuer Formula 1 ceramic watches, it wasn’t because of her Grand Slam victories. Nor because she had been working closely with TAG Heuer for the last five years as part of a close circle of brand ambassadors. It was because she is a woman — a TAG Heuer woman — endowed with special qualities and the systematic approach that comes with the territory.

Ceramic is a multisensory material, soft and warm yet unalterable: like a diamond, it cannot be scratched. Strong and exquisite, it is especially appealing to women. Combined with stainless steel, it creates a sublime bracelet with butterfly clasp — perfect for the most delicate wrist. The bezel on the jewelled version sparkles with 60 diamonds. The black edition is perfect for night on the town; the white, for anytime and anyplace.

For total star power, opt for the fully set bezel version with a new bracelet in ceramic and steel — the ideal accessory for those seeking something different, not overly showy or ostentatious, and always in the best of taste, no matter the circumstance.

Android Team “Laser Focused” On The User Experience For Next Release

Google’s Android team has been pushing new versions of the operating system at a furious pace since the first Android device hit the market in 2008. Lots of features have been added over the last couple of years. But the user experience hasn’t evolved much.

That’s all going to change in the next version, we’ve heard from multiple sources close to Google.

The team more or less has the core features they want at this point, say our sources, although more tweaks are certainly coming. But Google wants to put an end to the desire of handset manufacturers and carriers to add their own UI layer on top of Google – things like Sense, Motoblur, Ninjablur, etc.

Most of the time their shells aren’t all that great anyway (see HTC EVO), and they tend to slow down the device.

Google is focusing the bulk of its efforts on the user experience for the upcoming Gingerbread release to counter this. And they want to get the Android experience closer to the iPhone.

It’s unlikely that third parties will ever completely resist the temptation to meddle to differentiate their products and to get more control over the user. But Google’s goal is to make those “skins” as pointless as possible.

That’s a big goal, particularly since Android is a flexible operating system that is designed to handle a variety of hardware options. When you don’t lock down the hardware it’s very hard to make the UI perfect. Which is why Apple’s Macs, with locked down hardware, have always been a better experience than the hugely hardware-flexible Windows operating system.

Nokia lowers Devices & Services second quarter 2010 outlook and updates the full year 2010 outlook

Nokia today commented on factors impacting its business and updated its second quarter and full year 2010 outlook for Devices & Services. During the second quarter 2010, multiple factors are negatively impacting Nokia's business to a greater extent than previously expected. These factors include: the competitive environment, particularly at the high-end of the market, and shifts in product mix towards somewhat lower gross margin products. In addition, the recent depreciation of the Euro affects Nokia's cost of goods sold, operating expenses and global pricing tactics.

Updated outlook for Devices & Services for the second quarter 2010:
- Nokia now expects Devices & Services net sales to be at the lower end of, or slightly below, its previously expected range of EUR 6.7 billion to EUR 7.2 billion for the second quarter 2010. This update is primarily due to lower than previously expected average selling prices and mobile device volumes. 

- Nokia now expects Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin to be at the lower end of, or slightly below, its previously expected range of 9% to 12% for the second quarter 2010. This update is primarily due to a lower than previously expected gross margin.

Updated outlook for Devices & Services and mobile device market for the full year 2010:
- Nokia continues to expect industry mobile device volumes to be up approximately 10% in 2010, compared to 2009 (based on its revised definition of the industry mobile device market applicable beginning in 2010).

- Nokia continues to target its mobile device volume market share to be flat in 2010, compared to 2009.

- Nokia now expects its mobile device value market share to be slightly lower in 2010, compared to 2009. This update is primarily due to the competitive situation at the high-end of the market and shifts in product mix. This is an update to our previous target to increase our mobile device value market share slightly in 2010, compared to 2009.

- Nokia continues to target non-IFRS operating expenses in Devices & Services of approximately EUR 5.7 billion in 2010.

- Nokia now expects Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin to be at the lower end of, or below, its previously targeted range of 11% to 13% for the full year 2010. This update is primarily due to the currently estimated gross margin, which is lower than previously estimated. 

Nokia expects Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin during the fourth quarter 2010 to be higher than the currently expected full year Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin.

Nokia will provide its second quarter results and more details on its 2010 full year outlook when it reports its Q2 2010 results on July 22, 2010.

Nokia will be hosting a conference call at 13:30 UK time (8:30 EST). The dial-in number for media (listen only - the question and answer session will be limited to financial analysts and investors only) is +1 706 634 5012. Conference ID: 82113811.