Maximizing Glo 2.5G Way

Determined to redefine the life of Nigerians through its Second Generation Enhanced (2.5G) network, the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom, is exploiting the technology for its subscribers’ sake.

LIVING up to its status, the Second National Operator (SNO), Globacom Limited, has continued to blaze the trial on innovative Value Added Services (VAS), based on its deployment and determination to exploit its Second Generation Enhanced (2.5G) technology, within the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

The requirement for mobile data services, encouraged growth of the internet has been the backbone for the development of enhanced data services otherwise known as 2.5G.

2.5G, is a generic term used to refer to a standard of wireless mobile telephone networks that lie in between Second Generation (2G) and Third Generation (3G) technologies. According to the mobile-phone-directory.org, the development of 2.5G has been viewed as a stepping-stone towards 3G, which was prompted by the demand for better data services and access to the Internet.

In the evolution of mobile communications, each generation provides a higher data rate and additional capabilities, and 2.5G is no exception as it has provided faster services than 2G, but would not be equated to be as fast or as advanced as the newer third generation (3G) systems.

In some quarters, analysts have seen 2.5G as an alternative route to 3G, but this appears to be short-sighted, as 2.5G is several times slower than the full 3G service. Technically speaking, the term 2.5G extends the capabilities of 2G systems by providing additional features, such as a packet-switched connection via the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) in the Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)-based Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) structure, and enhanced data rates via the High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD) and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE).

These enhancements in 2.5G systems permit data speeds of 64-144 Kilobytes per second (kbps); a unit for measuring computing information equal to 1024 bytes, which enables these phones to feature web browsing, the use of navigation and navigational maps, voice mail, fax, and the sending and receiving of large electronic mail (e-mail) messages.

However, Glo Mobile’s latest VAS, the Glo Mobile-Banking (m-banking) within its MagicPlus package was based on the kind of infrastructure on ground and supporting software deployed to meet up with the proposed value added service plan.

This is coming as Meridea Financial Software Limited has been selected as one of the best-performing and innovative entity with the fast growth of its mobile banking solutions, by Tornado-2004 for its new generation solutions. Like Meridea, the likes of CraftSilicon and Zslinc.com, are among many other software houses that focus on mobile banking software evolution.

Announcing the introduction of Glo-M-banking, prior to its commencement on February 28, 2005, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Mohammed Jameel, said this service provides all Glo Mobile customers swift and easy access to their bank accounts from their mobile phones within Glo coverage area.

He also said subscribers could check their bank account balances, view the last five transactions on the account, transfer funds from one account to the other within the same bank and recharge a Glo prepaid line, all directly from their Glo Mobile phones. Noting, “this is the first time in the history of the country that one single application will provide a uniform interface to a multitude of banks”.

In collaboration with InterSwitch, Nigeria’s premier e-payment switch, Glo M-Banking offers subscribers access to real-time personal banking information and saves the customer time and money as he is able to do much of his banking transactions from the comfort of his home, office, on the road or anywhere he chooses. Thus, “With Glo Mobile-Banking, the customer carries his banks on his palm,” he declared.

Champion Infotel gathered that Glo Mobile began trials of its mobile banking services early this year, even as Mr. Jameel says that at the moment the service is available in 16 high-end banks, namely; First Bank Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Afribank, Oceanic Bank, Wema Bank and Chartered Bank, as well as Platinum Bank, Prudent Bank, Standard Trust Bank, Universal Trust Bank, Bond Bank, Gulf Bank, National Bank, First City Monument Bank and United Bank of Africa (UBA

The Piano’s Ancestors

The harp and the lyre were among the earliest hand-plucked stringed instruments. (Genesis 4:21) Later came the dulcimer, whose player hit the strings with small hammers. In Europe during the middle Ages, instruments were developed with a keyboard for plucking or striking the strings, the most popular being the clavichord was shaped like a rectangular box with a lid, and its strings were struck from below by little metal strips called tangents. It played expressively, but its tiny voice was easily drowned out by other instruments and buy singers. The bigger harpsichord, looking rather like the modern grand piano, long strings that were plucked by quills or plectra. It produce a strong resonant tone but without any variation of volume.
By 1700, with new dramatic, expressive music being composed, musicians wanted a keyboard instrument that played sensitively, as the clavichord did, but with the power of harpsichord.

The Piano Arrives
The Italian instrument maker Bartolomeo Cristofori combined the basic design of the harpsichord; using small leather- topped wooden hammers to strike the strings. He called his invention the gravicembalo col piano e forte (harpsichord with soft and loud), shortened to the pianoforte, or piano. Here was a keyboard instrument that had a fuller, richer tone and could be played softer or louder.
Sadly, cristofori did not live to see the success of his new instrument. Because few people sowed interest in it, he went back to making harpsichords. Almost 30 year after Cristofori’s first piano, German organ builder Gottfried Silbermann took another look at the design and started making his own pianos. Craftsmen in Germany and Austria continued to experiment, conxentrating on building a smaller, lighter model called a square piano.
In England another group of piano makers were at work. They had emigrated from German in the late 1750’s. One of them, Johannes Zumpe, developed a version of the square piano that sold well. Sebastien Erard of France and other makers in Europe and America added further improvements. Astute Scottish cabinetmaker John Broadwood perceived that the piano would be ideal for the young ladies of the newly affluent middle class. Soon his company was busy turning out large numbers of both square and grand pianos.
The next challenge was to design a compact piano with the superior sound of a grand. So piano were built upward and not outward, becoming ever larger. The vertical strings of one Broadwood model rose 2.7 meters above the keyboard; but being distinctly top-heavy, it proved too dangerous to play! Another upright called the giraffe model was really a grand piano set on end with its tail in the air. John Isaac Hawkins, an Englishman, designed the firs successful upright in 1800 by placing the lower end of the strings near floor level. This eventually led to the phasing out of the square piano.