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(For PC World Pakistan)

Canadian-based Polar Wireless has decided to set up operations in Pakistan. With their tagline of ‘The #1 way to save money on roaming,’ the organization is all set to launch their ‘international SIM card’ in the country.

On the face of it, an international SIM card would probably be one of the best acquisitions for a number of us. Imagine having a SIM card which you could use at all times. Going travelling? Now you may escape the hassle of having to change and acquire a temporary, new number while abroad, and easily keep in touch with your friends and relatives. The International SIM card, by all accounts sounds pretty useful, doesn’t it? But just how essential to your happiness and comfort is this SIM?

According to the official website’s report, the Polar Wireless International SIM card has a number of features that make it useful and worth investing some money in. For starters, Polar Wireless is an organization running a “mobile virtual network that works in combination with your current cell phone provider.”

Consequently, what it manages to do in effect is allow you to keep your personal cell phone number while at the same time roam freely around the world without having to change your personal mobile number or get another SIM card. The Polar1 Worldwide SIM card is in fact “a multifunctional SIM upgrade for mobile phones that automatically connects” all its users to the Polar Wireless Mobile Network. Not only does connecting to the Polar Network effectively allow you to access and use the network coverage globally, but it also allows all the users to benefit from far more competitive calling rates.

So how may users in Pakistan get this wonderful SIM card onto their cell phones also? As per the official instructions, the set-up procedure is a fairly simple one. All that is apparently needed is that after buying, you “insert the Polar Wireless chip” along side the original ‘home’ SIM card that you normally use. When the cell phone is switched back on, you will have automatically installed and started the Polar 1 application.

For security reasons, a new pin code will also be provided to users and they would have to enter it in their phones for verification purposes. And this is not all because more functions may also be accessed simply by ‘clicking on the Polar Wireless Application icon.’ The icon may be found in either the applications or downloads folders of most cell phones. The action activates these extra functions and allows users to enjoy the full Polar Wireless Network experience!

As per reports, Polar Wireless has yet to partner with our local carriers and telecom distributors, but looks forward to doing so. From the Polar perspective, this will allow the organization to direct more ‘inbound roaming traffic’ to its own networks. The perspective of the local Pakistani is a lot more diverse though. For one thing, it will definitely create jobs in the local market, especially if the company decides to open up a local office in the country to assist with local operations. And then again, it’s always good for the country if an international organization decides to invest in the country, so from that point of view also, the project is an excellent one.

The recently conducted 7thQOS Survey by PTA’s Zonal offices across 18 different regions stated that the ‘Grade of Service provided by Mobilink was approximately 3.26%, Ufone made it 1.66%, Telenor 2.61%, Warid 1.21% and CMPak 1.96%.’ According to PTA, the ideal Grade of Service should be less than 2%. Furthermore, the Call Quality should be above 3, but none of the local service providers apparently managed to make it above 2.28.

In simpler words, neither the grade of service, nor the quality of calls provide are of very high standard. Inserting an international telecom sector company which will provide consumers with “carrier grade voice quality using only premium telecom routes” might just help said consumers enjoy better services. And just maybe, the arrival of an international player into the arena, might help us push towards getting 3G technology in our local telecom sector that much faster.

Then again, there is the most obvious of all benefits… low roaming charges even when you are travelling in different regions of the world. You no longer have to worry about how you may receive all those extremely important calls you were afraid you’d have to miss on; Polar has eliminated the need for that particular worry.

The one international number that can ‘rule them all’ is perhaps the best part of the services that Polar Wireless is currently offering. Getting down to the very basics, imagine a couple of scenarios to yourself… A close knit family, the daughter gets married and moves abroad with her husband. She rarely calls her parents, the call rates are too expensive and the parents can’t call for very often or very long for the same reasons. Or, the son (or daughter) goes abroad to study or work. Parents are again unable to call for the same reason.

This may be extended to supposing that you have decided to travel, either for pleasure or business. You fix on a tour that covers at least three different regions of the world, but you are unable to get local SIM cards easily in any one of those areas. In which case, you are cut off from your relatives and friends. Allegedly, with the Polar international SIM these scenes are supposed to become history.

So should you get the Polar Wireless Service as soon as it becomes available in the market? The wise course would probably be to wait for a while, at least until we have some local reviews that give a better outline of how this service is panning out in Pakistan. Further to that, do not wait too long. In fact, if you are planning on travelling soon, try getting on to the Polar Network before you start off. The benefits certainly look appealing!

Besides, does Pakistan really offer any other viable alternatives as of now? No, not really. And those of you who quote Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus or emails here… fascinating as the social networking sites are, the Internet service provision in Pakistan is not the kind to allow you excellent streaming or let you talk very comfortably with friends over any of these services. Skype is an excellent tool for live video talking, but the slow speed at which it works in the country is definitely off-putting. Hopefully the Polar services will be better!

 

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