Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Monday, November 19, 2012

Last week at The Fonecast: 19th November 2012

Confusion by numbers

Mark Bridge writes:

The last few days have been particularly busy for UK telecoms regulator Ofcom. It started the week by announcing its rules for next year’s UK 4G mobile spectrum auction – expect services to go live in around six months – and it ended the week with plans to avoid a 5G capacity crunch.

Meanwhile Three UK revealed that its DC-HSDPA 3G services (which it had originally described as 4G, but let’s not talk about that now) were hitting the same kind of speeds as 4G customers have been enjoying.

Confusing for consumers?  Perhaps, although no more confusing than Nokia’s new maps business. Taking a tip from the Book of Really Literal Company Names (last seen on the shelf at Everything Everywhere) the Finnish company has rebranded its mapping and location business unit as HERE. Already on the cards is a free HTML5-based HERE maps application for iOS.

Also last week we learned that BlackBerry 10 would launch on 30th January 2013, which means the new BlackBerry 10 smartphones will be available on… oh, hang on, we don’t know yet. Probably no later than the end of Mobile World Congress in February, if RIM has any sense.

In addition, RIM added voice calling to its BBM instant messaging service; effectively VoIP via WiFi. Rather reminiscent of Microsoft’s Live Messenger announcement from last week.

Vodafone UK announced a smartphone leasing deal, Telefonica launched a mobile-based footfall tracking service for businesses and Tradedoubler brought affiliate marketing to mobile applications.

Meanwhile, research told us that wireless power for mobile devices would be worth over £3 billion by 2020, mobile accessories would be worth £39 billion by 2017 and mobile coupon use was expected to rise by 30% next year.

Finally, as patent-related legal battles rage around the world, there’s news of a settlement. Apple and HTC have agreed to dismiss all current lawsuits and have put a ten-year license agreement in place to cover current and future patents. Could this be the shape of things to come throughout the mobile industry?

Probably not. But It would be nice to think so.

Receive our reminder of the biggest mobile headlines by email every Monday morning. Simply register at TheFonecast.com by clicking the link at the top right-hand corner of our home page.
Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

How AI technology is transforming the smartphone experience

From improved performance to personalized recommendations, AI is enhancing the functionality and usability of smartphones for users

By incorporating advanced algorithms and machine learning capabilities, AI can help to optimize a smartphone's performance, providing users with a faster, more efficient and user-friendly experience.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Whatever happened to all my tech?

Whatever happened to all my tech?

Mark Bridge revisits his mobile technology reviews

Mark Bridge writes:

I've been taking a look back at the devices I've written about during the past few years. Some are still faithful companions, others... well, let's just say my faith was misplaced.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Predictions for 2016: Network Function Virtualisation, 4G throttling and video calling

Mark Windle, head of marketing at OpenCloud, predicts that this year’s reduction in the number of traditional telecoms operators in some countries will provide an opportunity for other operators to innovate and capture market share in 2016.

He says next year will be a year of rapid change for telecoms… whether it’s MVNO disruption, competitive tariff pricing or simply defence from the ‘dark art’ of hacking.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

Kapture review: the audio-recording wristband

A 'recording watch' that links to your smartphone

Mark Bridge writes:

The most memorable moments in life often go unrecorded. You don't have your camera in your hands. Your finger is still hovering over the 'pause' button on your audio recorder. Or you were simply too busy experiencing whatever was happening. It's all about the one that got away.

That's where Kapture can help.

Author: The Fonecast
4 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
Making mobile websites work better

Making mobile websites work better

Device detection and responsive design explained

Mark Bridge writes:

James Rosewell shows me a colourful roll of paper that's the width of an iPhone but well over three metres long. When I look closer, I can see it's a printed copy of the Wall Street Journal's mobile website. That's a lot of scrolling to do... and a pretty unfriendly user experience for anyone reading the news online. Why does it work so badly?

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: 4.0
RSS
12345678910Last

Recent Podcasts

The week's top mobile industry news stories, from Motorola to malware

Podcast - 5th February 2014

This week's podcast starts with Lenovo's purchase of the Motorola Mobility smartphone business. Was it a good deal for everyone?

We also talk about network infrastructure sharing in the UK, mobile malware, 3G coverage, misleading apps, mobile advertising, Samsung's retail plans and global tablet sales.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile network disagreements, unexpected price rises, patents, takeovers and 4G data

Podcast - 29th January 2014

We start this week's podcast by looking at the new Ofcom rules that should end unexpected mid-contract price rises for UK mobile phone customers.

There's also talk about misleading mobile network advertising, patent agreements, takeover bids, satellite broadband and 4G data usage... plus a curious patent application from Google.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile payments, connected contact lenses, secure smartphones and much more

Podcast - 22nd January 2014

In this week's podcast, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge talk about the new Zapp mobile payment scheme, Google's healthcare plans and an ultra-secure smartphone.

Also on the agenda are HP's new phablets, Jimmy Wales joining a UK MVNO, Apple's in-app purchases and plenty of research about tablets.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Google acquires Nest, O2 closes its Wallet, SMS usage falls... plus the rest of the week's mobile industry news

Podcast - 15th January 2014

This week's podcast starts with talk about money, as Google buys smart thermostat company Nest Labs while O2 UK closes its mobile Wallet product.

We're also looking at the decline of SMS text messaging in the UK, the end of the Cash4phones recycling business, an alleged security breach that wasn't what it seemed, mobile service on the Channel tunnel and the growth of 4G.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Predictions for 2014 and beyond with Florent Stroppa of OnMobile

Podcast - 10th January 2014

Mark Bridge talks to Florent Stroppa, General Manager Europe for mobile value-added service specialist OnMobile.

In today's programme Florent explains what 2014 holds for the mobile industry, what he thinks will happen in the slightly more-distant future - and what lessons we can learn from 2013.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First89101113151617Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«May 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
293012345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
272829303112
3456789

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement