Hi all, just to offer answers to a few recent questions:

Swift Broadband (swiftng.com) is not the same as Swift Talk.

If you have issues with any service provider registered with NCC, you can make complains by email by writing to CONSUAFFAIRS AT ncc DOT gov DOT ng. They always act on the emails, and in fact NCC will contact you as well as your service provider. Good luck.

These Nigerian banks may not actually be advertising on CNN, but rather on DSTV who slots in the ads during CNN's commercial breaks.

Thank God and congratulations!

Now is time for the next step: work well and seeing that you believe in God, work to please Him. Do not cut corners, do not work for 'eye service', see God behind every piece of paper, every customer, every challenge.

You may have spent an agonizing one year in search of a job, but still do not see this job as an end in itself. It is only useful to the extent that it enables you to sanctify yourself and give Glory to God. Don't be desperate but at all times, stop to ask yourself: Am I at this moment doing what God expects of me? If you ever answer that question with an upright intention, you will never go wrong.

Congrats my friend!

A high quality Society Magazine is in need of a full time Graphics Designer / Desktop Layout person.

Although years of experience is no import, it will be an advantage if there are previous work samples to see. Candidates should be comfortable with Adobe Indesign CS2 and above (or Quark Express) as well as Photoshop.

If you're qualified and interested, please send an email with all relevant details to jobs AT netorb DOT net DOT ng

Location: Lagos
Status: Urgent

yungchap, you've got mail!

It's a good discussion -- only if it helps someone.

My new comments will not add much, so why post again? Because I see there are some people who prefer to simply punch holes, but that too is okay, after all what we all say here are opinions. Just like a guy will swear by his bank, another will swear by his school, etc.

I agree that until you have a taste of many ISPs, you really cannot say which is the best. That is why you should listen to what others say, because you cannot test them all without buying their equipment, and that is impracticable.

I doubt if my opinion is the best one, but when someone asks "how long does it take to download 100MB", I'm initially inclined not to venture any answer, because some questions are asked not really to receive answers, but well, who knows?

For the avoidance of doubt, just this morning, using the Glo 3G UMTS, I downloaded 1MB in 16 seconds - yes Sir Sixteen seconds! How long for 100MB, do your Math! Try that for size!

Like I said, no new information here, because I made the same point in an earlier post.

All said, I still say go for Swift Broadband because of the consistency in both download and upload speed.

I hope this contribution sounds friendly to all. I only wanna help

I'm outta here!

Hi Afam,

Oh yes, the speed referenced for Glo UMTS is correct, but only for download.  That is understandable because download bandwidth is cheaper.  So fast actually that I have to be careful I don't get into a download spree when I'm using the Glo, because they do stick to the 3GByte download limit.

Last month, a friend borrowed the Glo to do some download.  He happily "guzzled" 400MB in no time before I 'called him to order'

All said, Swift will be my preference for the following reasons:
1.  Consistently fast download AND ESPECIALLY upload speed
2.  Flat rate

-I have used Multilinks, I quit
-I have used Starcomms EVDO, I quit

-I have used Swift Broadband since January 2007, I'm still with them.

Swift is fast (swiftng.com). Initial payment for Antenna (table top or External) is 47,000. Thereafter you pay N15,000 subscription per month, actually N15750 the extra being VAT.

In other to accommodate the times I'm out of the office, since March 2008, I have also Glo UMTS (3g) using the Icon Globesurfer USB Modem. It is amazing. Believe me the download in incredible, hovering on the average at 110kp/s. I paid N30,000 for the starter pack and N15,000 monthly subscription. The only downside is that you're limited to 3GB per month.

So in summary, I'll say go to for Swift because the rate is flat. You also have options for day-only, or night-only.

Hope this helps.

Yes the intention is to receive commission on payments - 10% basic and 5% from subscribed professionals.

I'll do that. Thanks.

Any more ideas people?

I've read somewhere than 1 in every 5 persons (some say more) is afraid of flying.  I am.

For everyone it begins in a different way.  Flying used to be one of my greatest delights.  The tide took a turn for bad after a trip from Abuja to Lagos where we suffered what turned out to be just turbulence.  Well, that cause is now history but what remains is a terror of flying.

I don't have time for a longer post now but this much I know.  At least my head knows it, while my heart thinks something else

1.  Flying is the safest way to travel.  How many air accidents happen?  Few, but because of the magnitude and the near 100% fatality, it makes news.
2.  It is said that taking-off and landing are the most crucial stages, but here's a consolation:  Do you realize that at that speed (of taxiing for take-off), the plane is already trying to lift off before the pilot actually 'allows' it?  So forget about the thought that the plane might drop off the sky.

On several trips, I have tried to take sleeping tablets.  Apart from giving you a bad stomach, they don't work.

Solution.  
1. Don't worry.  
2. Have a good sleep before the trip
3. Tell the Air Hostess about your fear.  You'll see how that helps.  Some even take you to see the Pilot and the view from there is consoling

More later.  Hope this helps.

Hello people,

Please what's your take on this?

You may have heard of guru.com; getafreelancer.com; rentacoder.com, etc. Will such an idea work in Nigeria? I'm conceiving of an idea similar to the aforementioned with some differences. It will not be limited to programming jobs but will include every conceivable "offsite" job, from Legal document preparation, Report Writing to Architectural designs.

In addition, it should address the payment barrier that many Nigerians face in some of the aforementioned.

Kindly give me your candid opinion. Will it work? What are the possible challenges? How do you suggest I go about overcoming them?

Thanks for your time.

Bigrover,

You've got mail!

Brume2020,

Thanks for your reply.

The point is that he actually supplied me batteries already (for HP nx8220) but they were defective. He was supposed to come back with replacements. I understand his boss is not as cooperative and helpful and he himself tries to be. I "feel" for him but then here I am. He left me with a used one (which I'm currently using) with promise to return with replacement for the new one I paid for. So far I have not heard from him.

Hi all,
Any FEDORA lovers here?

I have managed to download installer disks for FEDORA 8 (x86_64 machines only) and FEDORA 9 (i386 and x86_64; the former on CDs, the latter on DVD).

Anyone interested? Let me know and all you provide are blank disks and I make copies for you. I stay at Victoria Island.

Ciao

Uche4nna,

After the positive review I gave you, why have you left me in the lurch for over 5 months now? No replies, no refund, no more effort to resolve my problem,

Hello,
Please does anyone know of an Aikido Training Dojo either in Victoria Island or Ikoyi. A friend of mine is interested in learning this martial art. He once had a private trainer in Surulere until he relocated.

Appreciate your help.
Thanks

I have had a GTB MasterCard for a year now.

I use it for online transactions and have very few problems. Sometimes when I want to make a purchase the system at the other end 'flags' the transaction due to some anti-fraud alerts the owners have set (considering that I'm using it from Nigeria). In those cases, the payment would automatically be rejected, but when I contact the support services, a human would manually intervene and the payment will go through.

Apart from online transactions, my MasterCard has also been accepted for manual transactions - the type where you would fax your card details to the other party, and they manually effect the withdrawal.

So all in all, I have had a good experience.

Thinking,

@Admin, kindly delete this thread. Thank you.

Aw-right, now talking about free things, here's one:

Send 10 F-R-E-E sms to Nigerian gsm phones everyday. Yeah, you heard me right, and last I heard there's absolutely no conditions attached (except you mind the ads by the side of the page).

Seems the guys are in a beta stage for now, because now a then new features appear and disappear. I have tested it on Glo and Celtel

Head down there: http://smsafric.com

I'd like to know what your experience is.

"FL", Your two registrations (.com.ng and .org.ng) have now been completed. Congratulations!

Please check your mail box for information on how to proceed.

Your registration has been completed www.aborandy.org.ng Congratulations!

Please check your mail box for details on how to proceed.

Personal sites are usually of the .org.ng variety. Yes, they can be registered as well.

Em-sorry, but why don't people read instructions?

This process is tiresome enough without having to repeat things.

Kindly read above. I need more details because there are forms to fill:

Full business name (if it's a business) or whatever
Full physical address
Telephone contact details
Working email address

Thank you! No hard feelings but please make it easy for me

Hello bumsen,

I'd do it gladly.
Please provide me more details about your Registration entity. I need it for the form.

Full business name (if it's a business) or whatever
Full physical address
Telephone contact details
Working email address

The sooner I get these, the earlier I initiate registration.

Please send to the email address on internet DOT com DOT ng

Merry Christmas!

Just thought I'd make a follow-up post here. Uche4nna is being very helpful to my needs.
Thanks my friend!

Ok, I've received several requests for .ng registration and they're all in progress.

To encourage other people that this offer is for real please I'd like all those who make requests to help keep this post current. How? Just make a brief reply to this post saying, "I'm interested" or something like that. No need to include any other personal registration details.

Hurry up, I want to register as many as possible before the reg authorities begin to require payment.

Merry Christmas!

@mydevbox,

Your request is for smsc right? In that case the info posted above for Celtel is NOT for smsc. That's wap on phone.

If my assumption is correct, then what you're asking for are the data to be able to implement sms sending routing through the networks of these GSM companies, right?

Unfortunately that is privileged information. You can only get that information from the networks themselves because THEY WANT to give it to you. Besides, even if one of us here has the username and password, those are usually linked to paid-for sms credits so they'd be no use to you since they're set up per user.

I hope this information helps.

---

Now, for those who mistook the post as a request for wap settings, let me add info here for Glo.

access point: glosecure
username: gprs
password: gprs

No need to IP nor port number

---

Ah, by the way, Merry Christmas to everyone!

Hello everyone,

I apologize for the slight mix-up because I was yet to update the page. The URL is ok now and the email is visible, so please re-send your request.

Another issue: some who have responded did so without including all the personal/business details needed. It takes me less than 5 minutes to initiate a registration process, so please send everything to me when you place your request (including of course a telephone number so I can call you if I need some information quickly).

And by the way, take a look at the backpage of the Guardian of Monday December 17, 2007. Effective February 2008, registration will no longer be free. It beats me why we try to short-change ourselves. My theory is: keep this thing free until Nigeria can compete. Anyhow, it goes to show that you better hurry.

Ciao!

I'll arrange for you to have 10GB hosting space; unlimited Addon domains; unlimited Sub-domains; unlimited emails on Google Apps (but using your domain name), etc, for N15,000 a year.

First free month will be free to try it out. Pay only after first month.

It can't get better.

Yes, that's right, call it a Christmas gift to Nairalanders. Fact is, the more Nigerians who use the .ng domain, the better for the country and our presence on cyperspace. So I guess I'll contribute my quota.

It's taken me years (read y-e-a-r-s!) to get the hang of registering .ng domains myself without paying some guy loads of dough, after all it's supposed to be free (for now at least).

So here's the deal. From now till Dec 30, I will register your .ng domains for free.

The limits are not set by me, but by NIRA, and here's what they say:

[Quote]: Speculative registration is not encouraged. Please note that there is a limit to the number of spurious registrations, you may attempt. Only proceed beyond this point, if you really must register a domain.

If your intention is to have www.yourdomain.com.ng just specify yourdomain at this point. Later on, you will have the opportunity to specify the www part of the registration.
Acceptable sub-Domains under the .ng Top Level Domain are:

Secondary TLD Description
.com.ng Commercial Organizations
.edu.ng Schools granting baccalauriat degrees
.gov.ng Governmental entities
.net.ng Network infrastructure (i.e. isp routers) only
.org.ng Not for profit organisations
[/Quote]

So you understand. Make sure you really need the domain name and do not simply wish to do a "vanity registration + parking", which won't be fair to all, much less to me, because I do this in my spare time, etc.

Note also that NIRA (Nigeria Internet Registration Association) take the pains to make "personal contact" with the Adminstrative Contact of each prospective domain (you!), so please make sure you'll be reachable and can prove you are real.

That's all! Registration takes between 2 days and 3 months! I've had a bit of both ends of the spectrum

Stop over at this URL and leave me your details at the email address on the page and I'll get back to you as soon as possible: "internet DOT com DOT ng"
[quote][/quote]

---

This offer was to end Dec 30, but due to a lot of interest I'll extend a bit until I'm either tired or someone else puts obstacles.

Femi Odugbemi of dvworks.com produced MamaPut and Maroko. His contact details are on the site.