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Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

Ofcom helps protect customers against unexpected roaming charges

UK service providers must notify customers when they connect to a different network

New rules from UK telecoms regulator Ofcom will protect customers when they use their mobile phone on a foreign network. In addition, customers will be alerted if they are inadvertently roaming, perhaps because they're near an international border.
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Global smartphone market is set for recovery, says new forecast

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.
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Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

Vodafone and Three plan to merge their UK businesses

New Hutchison/Vodafone network would be biggest UK operator

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.
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UK mobile payment service Paym to close in March 2023

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.
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Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Qualcomm legal action moves forward in the UK

Which? seeks payout for Samsung and Apple smartphone owners

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.
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Thursday, August 5, 2021

Ofcom plans emergency services app for sign language users

New rules from UK communications regulator Ofcom are set to give British Sign Language users access to the emergency services via a video-relay app and website.

Ofcom's current rules ensure that people with hearing or speech impairments can communicate with other people over the phone via an Ofcom-approved text relay service. In addition, people can contact the emergency services by sending an SMS text message to 999.

However, the regulator acknowledges these services don't give British Sign Language (BSL) users equivalent access to the emergency services as other people.

As a result, it'll soon require telephone and broadband companies to offer customers a free video relay service for BSL users to contact the emergency services via a dedicated Ofcom-approved mobile app and website. Telecoms firms can either provide the service themselves or arrange for another organisation to do this.

A person using BSL will then be able to make an emergency video call to an interpreter in a call centre, with the interpreter translating the signing into spoken English for the emergency services and vice versa.

Ofcom will consult in November 2021 on proposals to approve any emergency video relay services. Telecoms companies will need to introduce their emergency video relay services no later than 17th June 2022.
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