Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Friday, February 25, 2011

This week at The Fonecast: 26th February 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

For many people, the week after Mobile World Congress has a flat, post-Christmas, post-holiday feeling.

But not here at The Fonecast. We’ve produced two extra podcasts this week – themed around mobile audio and mobile usability – and there are more interviews from MWC lined up for next week.

However, it’s certainly true to say there was a lot of news announced at Barcelona… and, as a result, there seems to have been less than usual this week.

New products were revealed by Burnside Telecom and GAI-Tronics, who’ve worked together to create rugged telephones and mobile-enabled terminals. These go beyond the ‘tough’ products that usually grab the headlines; think of the kind of telephone handset you might find next to a level crossing and you won’t be too far wrong.

Operating system news came courtesy of Microsoft, whose first Windows Phone update ran smoothly for 90% of customers but was eventually suspended for Samsung handsets. A tad embarrassing.

And network news was provided by financial results from Everything Everywhere and Telefonica. I’m no analyst but I’d say that the latter had the edge.

NFC hit the headlines twice. First with major mobile network operators saying they’d launch commercial Near Field Communications services in some markets by next year. They didn’t say what they’d be using NFC for, so don’t cut up your credit cards and burn your wallet yet, but it sounds positive.

Also talking about NFC was Transport for London, which takes care of Bus, Tube, Docklands Light Railway, Tram and London Overground rail services. It’s upgrading its card readers this year to allow instant payment using a contactless bank card, replacing the need to buy a pre-paid 'Oyster' card (or a conventional ticket). Fingers crossed that any new mobile payment service will be compatible.

On the subject of the Tube, there was a lot of speculation about Huawei and its plans/hopes/ambitions to get mobile phones working on the London Underground. Nothing’s been confirmed yet, although there are suggestions that Huawei might be the only equipment provider that’s interested in the deal.

Finally, this week has provided many reminders that the world is not always a particularly stable place… both physically and politically. Mobile phones have been used to send disturbing images from Libya – and it’s now possible to use mobile phones to send help to the earthquake victims in New Zealand.

Which means I won’t be ending this email with a clever punch-line. Just a link to the Red Cross.


You can read this weekly bulletin before it appears on the website. To receive it by email, simply register on our website by clicking the link in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Print
Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: OpinionNumber of views: 7255

Tags:

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
1345678910Last

Recent Podcasts

The week's biggest mobile industry news stories, from flying smartphones to falling profits

Podcast - 9th July 2014

We have a varied collection of mobile industry news stories in this week's podcast, including new rules affecting airline passengers with smartphones.

We also talk about BlackBerry giving up its European research centre, Vodafone installing fibre-optic broadband, Samsung's profits, spending on mobile advertising, M2M adoption and WiFi on trains.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Talking about smartwatches, smartphones, roaming charges and customer complaints

Podcast - 2nd July 2014

In this week's podcast we talk about two of the big announcements from Google I/O: a new version of Android and the retail launch of smartwatches powered by 'Android Wear'.

We also talk about Android-based smartphones from Nokia and Blackphone, network complaints in the UK, a reduction in European roaming charges and mobile ticketing.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A week of mobile news, including a US launch for the Amazon Fire smartphone and a UK launch for Google Glass

Podcast - 25th June 2014

This week's podcast covers the launch of the first Amazon smartphone and the introduction of Google Glass to the UK.

We also talk about new WiFi-powered voice services from EE and Three, plans to reduce mobile 'black spots', BlackBerry's app partnership, smartphone theft, 4G innovation... and rechargeable trousers.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A week of mobile news: 5G technology, takeovers, tablets, tax and trackers

Podcast - 18th June 2014

We open this week's podcast with news about the European Commission and South Korea working together on 5G mobile technology.

There's a quick look at Samsung's new tablet, some acquisition deals to talk about, a tax investigation, research into wearable devices and plenty of other mobile industry news as well.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Mobile industry news... including new smartphones, new tablets and a new satellite broadband service

Podcast - 11th June 2014

This week's podcast begins with Ofcom's plans to cut the wholesale cost of inter-network mobile phone calls. But what benefit will consumers see?

Iain, James and Mark then move on to discuss luxury smartphones, a new handset on the high street, mobile broadband for aircraft passengers, government monitoring, the growth of smartphones - and 4G-equipped donkeys.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
123468910Last

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