Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

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.
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

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

My phone isn't spying on me... and yours probably isn't, either

Mark Bridge writes:

“Mobile operators track who you call. In other news, banks know how much money is in your account and utility companies know where you live.”

At the end of a week in which so-called ‘spyware’ on mobile phones had been creating headlines, this tweet from Benedict Evans offered an alternative perspective.

The story started when security researcher Trevor Eckhart pointed out that diagnostic software from Carrier IQ was installed on millions of smartphones and could - theoretically - be used to monitor an individual’s usage. Carrier IQ threatened legal action before withdrawing its threat and apologising.

But what does this mean to customers in the UK?

Very little, it seems.

Some versions of the Apple iPhone may have Carrier IQ installed, although the iOS software appears not to monitor the keyboard, only sends reports to Apple and can be switched off.

Most other reports have been outright denials. HTC says the software is on some US devices but not on any European phones. O2, Orange and Vodafone say they don’t install the software on any UK devices and don’t believe it’s pre-installed on anything they sell. Google says its Android-based Nexus One, Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus handsets aren’t affected. Nokia and BlackBerry say they don’t install or authorise Carrier IQ for their phones.

Yes, there are loopholes in some of those statements - for example, just because RIM doesn’t install an app doesn’t mean that a network doesn’t do it later - but I’d say they were largely reassuring.

Perhaps most importantly - and, as you know, I’m not a lawyer - Carrier IQ appears to be illegal under European law. Again, it’s no guarantee… but I’d say we Brits don’t have too much to worry about.

Well, not when it comes to Carrier IQ, anyway. Now, let’s talk about the Euro…

[More details: BBC News; TechCrunch.com; guardian.co.uk; Forbes.com; TheVerge.com; arstechnica.com]

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

Recent Podcasts

BlackBerry contemplates its future, Vodafone reveals its 4G plans and ZTE puts its phones on eBay

Podcast - 14th August 2013

This week we're talking about BlackBerry's options for the future, Vodafone's 4G launch, Apple's patent victory and LG's new smartphone.

We also discuss ZTE selling its Firefox phones on eBay, Nokia's acquisition of NSN, the cost of phone calls in Europe, the controversy about recycling bins that monitor footfall and the new face promoting HTC.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Motorola reveals the Moto X, O2 readies its 4G and the UK government cures black spots

Podcast - 7th August 2013

The Motorola Moto X smartphone opens this week's show, despite not having a European release... but there's plenty of other UK news.

We talk about O2's plans to launch 4G mobile services later this month, we look at the ASA's ruling against EE, we contemplate the government's plans to eliminate some mobile 'black spots', we wonder when Android's market share will start to shrink - and we discuss many other mobile telecom stories as well.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Ruth Barnett of SwiftKey

Podcast - 2nd August 2013

James Rosewell interviews Ruth Barnett, head of communications at British-based technology company SwiftKey.

As well as talking about the SwiftKey keyboard app they also discuss competition in the mobile application space, working with manufacturers and the opportunities presented by 'Bring Your Own Device' schemes.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Google's new gadgets, freedom for 4G frequencies and many mid-year mobile results

Podcast - 31st July 2013

In this week's show we look at Google's new product announcements, O2's closure of its mobile telecare service and the clearance of radio frequencies for 4G services.

We also talk about the latest collection of quarterly results from Apple, Samsung, Amazon, LG and Facebook. Who's doing well - and should anyone be worried?

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Challenging results, crowd-sourced smartphones and cracked SIM security

Podcast - 24th July 2013

We start this week's show by discussing the recent quarterly results from Google, Nokia, Vodafone and Microsoft.

There's also time to talk about SIM security, Ubuntu's crowd-funded smartphone, the HTC One mini, smart watches and an unusual process for recharging your phone battery.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First1415161719212223Last

Follow thefonecast.com

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

Archive Calendar

«November 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
28293031123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
2526272829301
2345678

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement