Special contribution for Technology Times and Tech TV
Reviving the practice, the 14th ITCN Asia 2014 has again come up with a three-day long exhibition of IT and Telecommunication industry held at the Expo Center, Karachi, from 26th-28th August. A number of leading software houses and companies including local and foreign were part of this grand exhibition to market their services and launched products for the growth of industry. Two large halls were allocated for the purpose with entirely professional environment. Moreover, the ITCN also presented Windows Phone Hackathon challenge at Hall-II Mezzanine floor for the students and developers participating from different universities. Free entry was provided to facilitate the visitors while participants were allowed on the basis of their enrollment.
We, the students of Department of Computer Science, University of Karachi, visited this extravagant show of technology. What we witnessed there was a forum of professionals with more than 100 companies. While talking to Mr. Abbas, a software developer at a renowned CYBER Software house located at Shahrah-e-Faisal, he told us that this company is currently working on mobile, web and business applications. They had been working for years in the areas of inventory control systems, payroll and HR management. When asked about internships and its criteria, they informed that they will start hiring the students for internships from the next year and criteria only depends on the skills set of the developers.
Another very interactive IT expert, Mr. Fahad, Project Manager at 4m Corporation, a Karachi based software house. The firm is skilled in web and mobile application development, domain registration and web hosting, SEO and social media marketing, graphics designing and software design and its development. This organization is about to launch first tremendous “Virtual Store” to make quick purchase online by just downloading an app on smartphones and your product will be at your doorstep.
As we moved ahead, we came across with DOCKLAND technologies setup. After inquiring Khurram Burney, Senior Marketing Manager of his company, he explained the services his company is working on. They have introduced free of cost government project, for the first time in Pakistan by the name, RISING PAKISTAN. This project is launched by the governor Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad. Basically it is a software designed for hospitals in which all the details regarding OPD, doctors, all the contacts etc. are easily available. A time saving facility that is available just with a click at your mobile phones.
A to Z creators, a Karachi based company, was also promoting their company. Ali Adnan, Chief Operating officer, told about the companys profile. He further added about the services that they create websites with highly advanced features that can be easily accessed from anywhere. They also facilitate with web based property management system OPMS to run and manage whole business with just an internet connection and a PC.
A media agency, Click 9, is working on social media strategies and management, digital media, covering digital media campaigns to cover targeted market. As a part of software house it is also working on mobile application development, website designing and its development as mentioned by their CEO, Riffatullah Deol.
We also had a chance to visit many stalls, and the first was Wavetech. This company has specialization in Customer Experience Management and Information Display Solutions to meet the requirements of Banks, Telecoms, Stock Exchanges, Retail, Brokerage Houses, Healthcare, Advertising, Entertainment, Retail, Education, Airlines, Mass transit, Airports and Public organizations etc. its headquarter is in Dubai(UAE). The company also provides Queue Management System which is ideal for Banks, Telecom Service Centers, Government Institutions, Hospitals, Retail Outlets, Airlines, Embassies or any other organization which encounters heavy flow of customers. They also offer LED display digital billboards to drive branding campaign with captivating images and stay with the audience forever.
Next to them was CommTel; they offer innovative solutions to their customers in collaboration with Cisco and McAfee. They provide services like Telepresence, Security Solutions, Network Solutions, Data Center, IP Telephony and Contact Centre Solutions and Business Software Solutions. The company has many branches including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Dubai and in San Jose (US). Commtel digitals headquarters are in Lahore and their services are in Website Development, Social Media Management, E-commerce solution, Mobile and Business App Development, Online Advertising and Email Marketing Solutions. Their partners are FireEye and IBM business Partner.
Intelligent Controller for household/office dual fuel generator, this was the project of Bahria Universitys students. It was a generator which acts like a UPS. The circuit was very neatly and cleanly built. This eye-catching project operates on dual fuel (gas as well as petrol). It is a self-start generator but takes few minutes to start by checking the level of gas pressure and works accordingly.
Bitdefender Antivirus 2015, this stall was well arranged. They were offering different items but this anti-virus succeeded in catching our attention. According to them, it is no#1 anti-virus now a days. It has lowest impact on performance. Its previous versions are still in the market.
Createch is also concerned with solutions related to web development, graphics designing and enterprise solutions said by Ali Khan, Business Developer at Createch. According to him, they are providing best quality designs and development options for their clients. They offer internships for fresh graduates as well as for students depending upon their talent.
PSEB (Pakistan Software Export Borad), an apex government body is serving something different for the growth and promotion of IT industry in Pakistan. They are working for the projects and programs for infrastructure development, human capital development, company capability development, international marketing and strategy research and to bring innovation in technological sector.
At the end, we visited the ITCN Microsoft Hackathon which was a three-day long Windows Phone Hackathon. It was open for startups, students and professional developers to come and hack for Windows Phone and win cool Windows Phone devices.
Some companies were also guiding students about their careers and showing them the brighter side of IT industry. Goodie bags and gift items were also given by some companies. Words cant define the efforts of our professionals and expertise in IT industry. They have been doing for years to put Pakistan technically sound on global map and they have become successful to come up to the mark to compete globally.
The authors can be reached at sadafghafoor.05@gmail.com and ramsha.azhar@hotmail.com