The dilemma of Form-R for iOS developers in Pakistan

Posted by BA on Jun 3, 2013 in App Store, Apple, iPhone, iPhone Apps, Mobile Apps, Mobile Development, Mobile Games | 0 comments

If you are an iOS developer based in Pakistan and use your iTunes connect account for selling paid apps, you must have seen this email from apple. From now onwards you have to fill this Form R and submit it every month to receive your payments. Every month, you heard it right EVERY MONTH.

Why Form R?

Actually it has something to do with State Bank of Pakistan or some similar authority not letting the payments directly land to the developers’ account. Barclays bank is Apple’s partner bank in the country and they distribute payments to all developers every month. To process these payments now, Barclays bank needs a filled Form R from all developers every month. Big pain?

How to fill Form-R?

While I was freaking out about it, this still doesn’t seem to be that bad at all. Here is the process you have to follow:

1. Log in to your iTunes Connect account and note your payment amount and payment date. You have to send this Form R within 2 weeks of this payment date.
2. Get hold of a copy of Form R. If you have not received it from Apple, you can download Form R from www.basitali.com/downloads/docs/PKFormR.pdf
3. Print form R and print it out.
4. Provide following addresses in “Sender” field on Form R

– Apple Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014
– iTunes S.a.r.l, 31-33 rue Sainte Zithe, Luxembourg L-273, Luxembourg

5. Mention the amount you can see in iTunes Connect’s Payment section (done in step 1).
6. In the end provide your name, address, telephone number and email address in the beneficiary section. Make sure you include all this information so that Barclays bank can process your payment.
7. Sign the form
8. Put this form R in an envelop and Courier this to following address:
– Barclays Bank PLC, Pakistan, 13 – C, College Road, F- 7 Markaz, Islamabad
Hint: If you are being lazy and don’t wanna go drop it at a courier outlet, you can call Call Courier Service at 111-786-227 and they’ll come and pick the letter from you

What is Form R?

As the title says, Form R is a declaration of foreign remittance receipt above Rs. 10,000 for purpose other than Export and family maintenance. Well, while it says Rs. 10,000 on the title, Apple tells us to make sure to fill the form for whatever amount is coming in. Moreover, while I could put iTunes payment under software export, the banks are actually going to differ with my opinion here. And I also like the year 1947 on the title of the form

I’m sure this is going to work out and if you follow this process every month, you’ll be receiving your payments on time every month. Please do share your experience with me whether you succeed or you have any issues. Drop me a line on @basitj.

Another Beginning

Posted by BA on Mar 13, 2013 in Android, Business, iPhone, Mobile Apps, Technology | 0 comments

While I’ve been running my own start up and have been involved with a couple before that, I’ve recently joined a friend to go for yet another start-up, a brand new company based in DHA Lahore and this is yet another beginning, yet another exciting action packed start-up and yet another dawn for the new dreams.

Duddoo aur Dhobi – First step in the right direction

Posted by BA on Feb 22, 2013 in Apple, iPad, iPhone, iPhone Apps, Mobile, Mobile Apps, Mobile Games, Pakistan | 0 comments

Like any other parent having a young child, my worries are beginning to rise as my son has  access to media, music, cartoons, games, entertainment and education that is either in a foreign language or it’s localized in an incorrect way. While it is great to access English, Spanish and French content, there has been a big gap when we talk about Urdu content, especially in interactive education, games, cartoons, stories and edu-tainment apps. No I do not like my son watching Hindi content, that is not Urdu beware. There have been several serious efforts like ToffeeTV to fill the gap but we need to speed up the efforts now.

Speedometer – released for iOS

Posted by BA on Dec 9, 2012 in Apple, GPS, iPhone, iPhone Apps, Mobile | 0 comments

We at Eccentrica Technologies have just released Speedometer app for iPhone and iPad. This GPS based Speedometer app lets you keep an eye on your speed whether you are in a car, a bus, a train, a boat, riding a bike, running on foot or even skiing downhill. The app shows an analog and digital speed of the device you’re carrying. You can also turn on a speed alarm to avoid traffic tickets and the iPhone can fit in your dashboard for replacing your old boring speedometer.

The app takes just a few moments to lock the GPS and you’re ready to go. Download this app today for iTunes store now.

Download link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-speedometer/id582606409?mt=8

Santa Tracker for Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone

Posted by BA on Dec 7, 2012 in App Store, Microsoft Windows Phone, Mobile, Windows Phone Apps | 0 comments

Christmas is just around the corner and we’re sure kids are the most excited ones among all. The big question is, where is Santa Claus right now? This little app on your Windows phone can tell you Santa’s location on a neatly drawn Google map. If you have a Nokia Lumia 920 or another Windows 8 or Windows 7 phone, you can download this app from the windows marketplace.

Google Maps for Android upgraded. Now supports indoor maps.

Posted by BA on Mar 11, 2012 in Google, Google Maps, GPS, Mobile Apps, Pakistan | 0 comments

Google maps for Android has been updated and it now supports the indoor maps. Now you can search for places within malls, plazas, airports and stadiums. Checkout a screen shot of Lahore Airport

Speedometer for PlayBook

Posted by BA on Feb 22, 2012 in Android, Android Apps, Android Market, App World, BlackBerry, BlackBerry Apps, Bold, Curve, Playbook, PlayBook Apps, Tablet, Tablet Apps, Torch, Torch 2 | 0 comments

I’m excited to announce that our app named Speedometer was available for Playbook OS 2.0 way before the OS was available for general public. You can download this GPS based speedometer app that shows both analog and digital speedometer on your Playbook screen. You can get it from App-World by hitting this link.

Or grab it via this QR-Code:

The app is also available for BlackBerry smartphones and Android smartphones from the respective app-stores.

The app features a GPS based speedometer that works on different scales including mph, kmph, meters per second, feet per second and knots. You can use the speedometer while riding a car, bus, train, ship or boat or anything that runs on the surface of earth.

Start the fun and download it today on your smart-phone or tablet.

Android Market link for Speedometer: Click Here

App World link for BlackBerry smartphone version: Click Here

Product Website: http://www.speedometer.mobi

Playbook has Email Now!

Posted by BA on Feb 22, 2012 in Android, Android Apps, App World, BlackBerry, Operating System, Playbook, Tablet | 0 comments

Yesterday, there were only two types of tablets that could not check email, one was Playbook and the other was Aspirin ( ROFL). And today, the basic feature set of the PlayBook tablet by Research In Motion is complete.
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The good news comes with the public release of BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 and the new features are: