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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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Opinion Articles

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

It's the wrong song

Mark Bridge writes:

“T’ain’t what you do (it’s the way that you do it)”

So sang Ella Fitzgerald, Bananarama and the Fun Boy Three - although sadly not on the same recording. But that message is no longer being followed by many companies. Instead, the new mantra seems to be the other way round. And I think that’s a good thing.

Today, Apple announced a new iTunes U application. The iTunes U service isn’t new; it’s been around for a few years and is all about enabling colleges and universities to put lectures and presentations online. However, the new educational app makes it easier for students with an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to take an entire course on their Apple device - whether reading books or making notes - and also lets teachers manage these courses.

As long as you have an Apple device - perhaps an iPhone, perhaps an iPad - you can use iTunes U. There’s no need for a particular handset. Mobile is part of the mix... but it’s not essential.

Over in Nike Town USA, the winged goddess was talking about the NIKE+ FuelBand. It’s a wristband (don’t mention the Jawbone UP) that tracks everyday movement and measures it using ‘NikeFuel’. The more you move - whether running, walking or dancing - the more NikeFuel you generate. Alternatively, it’ll count steps or calculate calories if you prefer.

As well as displaying coloured LEDs that help the user see how they’re approaching their daily goal, the FuelBand also synchronises with the Nike+ website. You can plug it in to a PC or you can connect via Bluetooth to a mobile app.

Once again, mobile is there - but it’s a ‘nice to have’ option and isn’t mandatory.

And then there’s Facebook, with its 60 new applications for Timeline, letting users share where they’re going, what they’re eating, the films they like... on mobile and on non-mobile platforms.

We’re finally starting to see mobile being accepted more and more, being part of the bigger picture and not having a cameo role.

Finally, companies are moving away from simply showing off with mobile - and are starting to take advantage of mobile instead. At least, I hope they are.

It ain’t what you do?  It is now. And that’s what gets results.

You can hear Mark Bridge, Iain Graham and James Rosewell discuss the latest mobile industry headlines every Wednesday. Pick up their podcast from iTunes, find it via RSS or listen on the home page of TheFonecast.com.
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In this special extended interview, Suneet Singh Tuli talks to Iain Graham about the PocketSurfer device. They discuss form factors, flat-rate charging for data, roaming charges, convergence, consumer acceptance - and the forthcoming PocketSurfer3.

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