'BanglarRoop' -- Net service for the common people

The web card, the first of its kind, was first launched at the recently concluded Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) Computer Showcase 2004.

"To get internet service at an affordable rate and locate a web-space has become almost a social right for an individual," said S M Iqbal, managing director of ISN, indicating how the country has recently been experiencing quite an appreciable rate of growth in the ICT sectors. "And this is where Bdroop comes into play," he added.

Unlike anything the prepaid internet users have yet experienced, 'Bdroop' is a special kind of prepaid internet card priced at Taka 300, which will allow any user located anywhere in the country to use ISN's internet service and also includes a website development option for that particular individual or company by the web-development team of Bdroop along with other important offline services, which was only accessible through an internet connection. The 'Bdroop' package will be valid for a year.

"Using the email is one of the added features," mentioned Manjurul Islam Tauhid, a member of the technical support-team of Bdroop, while highlighting the various features of the service at the seminar.

Conventionally, it is necessary to use a computer for this purpose, but for the Bdroop registered users, it will be as simple as just making a call to ISN's call-centre with their registered password, and instructing them over the content and the destination of the email to be used. "This is expected to be of good use for the villagers of our country," said Tauhid, referring to those who have their relatives living abroad and use an amount of Tk 500 per annum on sending postal mails to these non-residents. This tele-email service has been limited to at most four emails per month initially, for a typical user of Bdroop. "This will be an alternate way to educate the nation on internet usage," mentioned Tauhid.

Users may also use SMS service from their mobile phones to attain this email service. They would need to SMS their serial number from Bdroop and the ISN server will pick out the appropriate file from the server to attach as an email to the destined address. "It is required that the user upload the accurate file to our server before he or she tries the SMS service," Tauhid pointed out. Users may also choose to send e-cards to any destination in the world on different occasions through this service.

"We are looking into building a nation where everybody will have a cyber-address to refer to," Iqbal said while chairing the seminar. Iqbal was referring to the websites that were to be developed for all Bdroop users from ISN. These sites will have a simple outlook and provide space for only two image files and a personal profile. "The profile section may contain business profile for new business entrepreneurs," he added, "Users may also choose to upload a softcopy of the designated business card on the site.

The business prospect of Bdroop is expected to be used by different small-time vendors and gift-sellers, and also by matrimonial firms with photographs. "The user will attain mostly all the benefits of the internet through Bdroop," Tauhid added.

Users may also choose to search the internet by calling in the service center. The operator will present the user with selective results of the search he makes on the user's behalf. This method should bring in a wider use of the net, even when it is not quite physically and locally available.

At present the service holds around three hundred users of different profiles, but most of which are of students who are looking for attaining a job. "They would want to upload their bio-data or curriculum vitae to be available to corporate net searches," states Tauhid.

Currently calls will follow in from different zones of the country, including Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kishoreganj, Feni and Barishal. "On average we receive around 20 to 30 calls everyday," Tauhid says. Most of the callers end up buying Bdroop and instructing the service-agent on making his or her personal website. "We started putting advertisements of Bdroop right after the BCS computer show," Tauhid said mentioning that three hundred clients for Bdroop is quite a turnout in just over a month.

For more information one may contact ISN or visit the websites, www.bdrp.com and www.bangla.net.