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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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Friday, November 7, 2014

UK consumers are expected to spend over £100 million on wearable technology this Christmas

New research from Samsung Electronics predicts that people in the UK will spend £104.7 million on wearable technology this Christmas, putting them ahead of consumers in Germany, Spain and The Netherlands.

That’s a 181% increase in revenue from Christmas 2013, with unit sales up 120.8% on 2013.

1,028,800 wearable devices are expected to be sold in the UK this Christmas, helping the total wearables market reach £313.6 million for the whole of 2014.

Fitness and activity trackers are predicted to be the most popular wearable devices in the UK for Christmas, accounting for almost £29 million of the predicted £104.7 million spend, followed by smart watches (£25.04 million) and healthcare wearable devices (£22.01 million).

Andy Griffiths, President of Samsung UK & Ireland, said “The wearables market has exploded over the past 12 to 18 months with some incredibly exciting and innovative products entering the market. As the benefits wearable technology can offer become better understood, it is natural that the sales within this sector will grow and we are delighted to see predictions of 121% growth and sales reaching €395 million in the UK alone by the end of this year. At Samsung, we are passionate about bringing to market products that enhance peoples’ lives and hope that as we continue to innovate in the exciting wearables space that our products will continue to excite and engage people.”

The report was prepared by the Centre for Retail Research (CRR) by combining data from national statistic authorities, independent research organisations and key retailers. ‘Christmas’ is defined as the six-week period from mid-November until the end of the year.

Anticipated UK sales of wearables during Christmas 2014:

Smart glasses: 13,500 (£11.63 million)

Smart watches: 156,600 (£25.04 million)

Multimedia & Smart Cameras: 67,000 (£17.09 million)

Fitness & Activity Trackers: 474,900 (£28.97 million)

Healthcare: 316,800 (£22.01 million)

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