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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

This week at The Fonecast: 25th June 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

There's been a bit of a location-based theme in the mobile industry this week.

Hardly surprising, with a new report from Pyramid Research saying location-based advertising is becoming increasingly popular – and NAVTEQ revealing that most consumers are happy receiving promotional offers in exchange for free location-related content.

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New mobile payment mechanism launches... and I don't get it

Mark Bridge writes:

Let's talk mobile payments for a moment. Not using your 'mobile wallet' in shops but simply purchasing something online. Opening your phone's web browser and placing an order. Opening an app and buying an upgraded zombie-killing mega-gun. That kind of thing.

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Nokia and Sony Ericsson named as the next mobile brands to disappear

Mark Bridge writes:

Online financial news and commentary site 24/7 Wall St has published a list of ten brands it thinks will disappear next year. Among those named on the list of doom are Nokia and Sony Ericsson.

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Has Apple just patented the touchscreen?

Mark Bridge writes:

Imagine a mobile phone that can’t be built without the permission of Apple. Impossible?  Unrealistic?  Not necessarily.

This week, Apple was awarded US patent 7,966,578. It's an application that was originally filed at the end of 2007, almost a year after the iPhone was first revealed.

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NFC... but not as you know it

Mark Bridge writes:

There's more to NFC than mobile payments... and there's more to mobile payments than NFC.

The latest audio accessories from Nokia use 'contactless' NFC technology to speed up Bluetooth connections. Simply touch a compatible Nokia phone against the Play 360° loudspeaker and your music will play through the speaker. There's no need to bother with conventional Bluetooth pairing.

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Recent Podcasts

Monday, July 14, 2014

Vodafone announces budget own-brand 4G smartphones

Vodafone has announced two new own-brand 4G smartphones: the Vodafone Smart 4 power and Vodafone Smart 4 turbo. They join other non-4G devices in the company’s ‘Smart’ range.

Both new phones run Android v4.4 (‘KitKat’) and are equipped with a set-up wizard as well as a selection of Vodafone apps. In addition, they’re supplied with NFC tags that can be programmed to activate features on the phones.

The Vodafone Smart 4 power is the flagship device, with a 5-inch qHD screen, a 5 megapixel camera and a MediaTek 1.3GHz quad-core processor. It’ll be available on ‘pay monthly’ and pre-pay deals (despite Vodafone's current lack of 4G pre-pay price plans in the UK), with pre-pay pricing from €169 (around £135) depending on markets.

Described as “the most affordable 4G smartphone in the Vodafone range”, the Vodafone Smart 4 turbo is priced from €99 (around £79). It has a 4.5-inch screen and a 1.2GHz quad-core processor.

Patrick Chomet, Vodafone group terminals director, said “The new Vodafone smartphones are ideal for anyone looking for the best 4G experience at a budget price. Put the Vodafone Smart power or turbo together with our Vodafone 4G plans and you have the perfect package: ultra-fast 4G networks, generous data, call and text allowances, and great support.”

Although availability in the UK hasn’t been confirmed, both handsets are expected to be available across Vodafone markets within the next few weeks.

Earlier this year, EE introduced an own-brand £99.99 smartphone called the Kestrel, which was described at the time as the UK’s lowest priced 4G smartphone.

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