Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Ofcom says mobile contracts should ditch inflation-related price rises

Ofcom says mobile contracts should ditch inflation-related price rises

UK telecoms regulator Ofcom wants to ban inflation-related rises in phone and broadband contracts. Instead, it says any potential mid-contract price rises should be set out in pounds and pence.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

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.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
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.
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

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

Opinion Articles

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Ofcom bans locked handsets from December 2021

New customer-friendly rules from UK telecoms regulator

Telecoms regulator Ofcom is to ban UK mobile network operators from selling handsets that are 'locked' to their own networks. This will take effect from December 2021.

It's part of a package of new rules to help customers understand their contracts before they sign up and makes it easier for them to move to other networks when their minimum contract term ends.

'Locking' new phones to a particular network is favoured by some companies as it helps them enforce the minimum term of the contract, which is often associated with a subsidised purchase price for the phone. Unlocking usually has a charge associated with it and can be a confusing process for customers.

O2, Sky, Three and Virgin are among the companies that already sell unlocked devices to their customers.

Selina Chadha, Connectivity Director for Ofcom, said "We know that lots of people can be put off from switching because their handset is locked. So we’re banning mobile companies from selling locked phones, which will save people time, money and effort – and help them unlock better deals."

The other new Ofcom rules will ensure customers are given a summary of their contract in writing before they sign up, including the contract length and prices - and customers who need accessible formats because of disabilities will be able to choose communications in a format that meets their needs. They're part of the regulator's implementation of the new European Electronic Communications Code. These rules on better contract information will come into effect from June 2022.
Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: Handsets and manufacturers, Networks and operators, NewsNumber of views: 10626

Tags: uk legal ofcom

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

Recent Podcasts

Twitter is going public, Dell is going private... and roaming charges may be going forever

Podcast - 18th September 2013

We start this week's show with news about the European Commission's plans to end mobile roaming charges completely from next year.

We're also talking about the future facing Twitter and Dell, Vodafone's security challenges in Germany, app development, wireless charging, mobile payments and Nokia's Android-based smartphones.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Apple iPhone 5s, Samsung Galaxy smartwatch, Sony Xperia Z1 and much more

Podcast - 11th September 2013

This week's show is packed with new products, including two iPhones, three smartwatches, two Android smartphones and a couple of innovative lens-based camera accessories.

We also find time to talk about mobile security, virtual networks and being dishonest via text message.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Microsoft, Nokia, Verizon and Vodafone: the latest mobile industry news

Podcast - 4th September 2013

We're back after a short break last week - and just in time for three of the biggest industry news stories of the year.

Microsoft's CEO announces his retirement, then Vodafone sells its US operation for $130 billion... and now Nokia's mobile phone business is being bought. Alongside these reports there's also time to talk about 4G in the UK, children with mobiles, roaming charges and the future of smartphones.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

David Akka talks about Google's future and declares that Android is dead

Podcast - 26th August 2013

In this special feature we're talking to David Akka, who tells us why he says Android is dead, why Chromecast is an omen for the mobile industry, why OS companies are getting into hardware and what the future holds for the mobile industry.

David is UK managing director of Magic Software and describes himself as a 'recovering techie'. His personal blog is at davidakka.com.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A week of mobile industry news, from smart meters to stupid drivers

Podcast - 21st August 2013

There's good news for Telefonica as it's chosen to support the UK's smart meter rollout - but bad news for fans of the Microsoft Tag barcode, which is being discontinued in a couple of years' time.

We're also talking about drivers who use mobile phones illegally, Amazon's new service for mobile developers, the forthcoming Kazam smartphone, mobile advertising, satellite broadband, wearable security accessories and a word that's completely unacceptable to Motorola.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First1314151618202122Last

Follow thefonecast.com

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

Archive Calendar

«March 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
26272829123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
1234567

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement