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Monday, March 26, 2012

Last week at The Fonecast: 26th March 2012

Mark Bridge writes:

It’s been a week of ups and downs for the mobile industry.

It started with good news as Apple – fresh from hitting 3 million new iPad sales – announced its plans to spend some of the $100 billion sitting in its decidedly non-mobile wallet. There’ll be a quarterly dividend and a share buy-back scheme.

And tablet sales are set to keep influencing the mobile market, with Juniper Research predicting that spending on tablet games will account for around a third of all mobile game revenue by 2016 – while ABI Research anticipated the increasing dominance of lower-cost tablet devices with smaller displays.

On the subject of growth, the number of LTE mobile phone shipments worldwide will grow tenfold this year, according to a new report from Strategy Analytics (although I can’t imagine many of those being sold in the UK). Fortunately other smartphones will be selling, according to research company YouGov: it’s found that 42% of ‘standard’ mobile phone owners plan to choose a smartphone when they upgrade.

Innovative ideas came from Wired magazine, which included an NFC advertisement in its US issue, and from the GSMA. Fresh from Mobile World Congress (and smarting from the inevitable complaints about its free WiFi for delegates), it’s working with the Wireless Broadband Alliance to make it easier for mobile devices to connect to WiFi hotspots. The plans are for your SIM card to automatically provide log-in details.

Finally to the week’s bad news. Mobile security business Lookout named Manchester as the top place for mislaid mobiles, Ofcom named Orange as the network that attracted the most complaints in the final quarter of 2011 – and Channel 4 news named Barclays and Visa as having NFC payment cards that weren’t particularly secure. Apparently an NFC-equipped smartphone could be used to copy the cardholder’s name and number, leading to the possibility of pickpockets simply rubbing themselves against you.

However, as PIN codes and the CVV number from the back of the card aren’t transmitted, the resulting information could also be obtained by someone looking over your shoulder. And that’s less fun for all concerned.

Start your week with a reminder of the latest mobile headlines. Simply register at TheFonecast.com by clicking the link at the top right-hand corner of our home page and we’ll send you this weekly news summary by email.

The Fonecast is sponsored by 51Degrees.mobi. More details about advertising and sponsorship opportunities are available on the About us section of our website.
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Opinion Articles

Last week at The Fonecast: 15th October 2012

US government grumbles, O2 UK stumbles

Mark Bridge writes:

Can you trust a Chinese company to build a telecoms network?  Apparently not, according to the US House of Representatives. The “Investigative Report on the U.S. National Security Issues Posed by Chinese Telecommunications Companies Huawei and ZTE” wasn’t at all impressed with the two companies, although most of the complaints appeared to be about a lack of cooperation rather than hard evidence. I wonder if any mysterious agents are planning to visit the new Huawei UK HQ before next year’s official opening?

Author: The Fonecast
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Article rating: 5.0

Mobile phones used to track malaria transmission patterns

Jessica Berman of voanews.com writes:

Scientists are studying the use of mobile phones to track patterns of malaria transmission in endemic nations. The research is part of an effort by many countries to control or eliminate the mosquito-borne disease.

Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Article rating: 4.0

Congressional warning on Chinese telecoms could prompt retaliation

William Gallo of voanews.com writes:

Analysts say this week's U.S. congressional report that called two Chinese telecoms a threat to national security is likely to prompt China to retaliate against U.S. businesses.

The House Intelligence Committee report warned U.S. companies against doing business with China's largest phone equipment companies, Huawei and ZTE.

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Kenya to pull plug on counterfeit mobile phones

Gabe Joselow of voanews.com writes:

Mobile phone subscribers in Kenya may wake up Monday morning to find their phones no longer work, as the nation's telecom companies enact a nation-wide switch-off of all counterfeit devices. Retailers and customers have mixed reactions to the plan, which could affect up to three million mobile phones.

Author: The Fonecast
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Last week at The Fonecast: 1st October 2012

A high for RIM, a low for Apple

Mark Bridge writes:

Apple started last week in the glow of a CoolBrands survey that had named it the UK's coolest brand – but it ended the week with its head bowed in embarrassment. Not only did Tim Cook apologise for the quality of the company’s iOS 6 Maps application, he recommended that customers use competing services until it gets better.

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