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Thursday, August 22, 2013

Mini 'key fob' mobile phones could be banned in the UK

It’s reported that the UK government is considering a sales ban on small mobile phones designed to look like remote-access car keys.

Although many of the phones resemble keys used by major vehicle brands, which would infringe the manufacturers’ copyright, there are also concerns that the phones are small enough to be smuggled into prisons.

The National Trading Standards Board (NTSB), which represents trading standards services across England and Wales, has confirmed that its eCrime Centre is working with the Serious Organised Crime Agency because some of the phones may be dangerous.

Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the National Trading Standards Board, said  “Trading Standards takes a very serious view of products being sold that might pose a danger to members of the public.  We are particularly concerned that these phone are being sold online and retailers may not be aware of who they are selling them to.  We would urge online retailers not to sell these phones, or members of the public to buy them.”

Recent figures have shown that around 7,000 mobile phones and SIM cards are currently confiscated in prisons across England and Wales every year.

[More details: BBC News; The Times]

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Categories: Handsets and manufacturers, Retailing, NewsNumber of views: 5060

Tags: uk security legal

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Opinion Articles

Tablets aren't real computers... and that's why they're so popular

Mark Bridge writes:

As any Star Trek fan knows, Apple didn't invent the tablet computer. The crew of the Enterprise regularly used handheld devices that looked remarkably like an electronic clipboard... or an iPad. In fact, engineers in the 1960s were working on tablet devices as the original Star Trek series first aired.

Then there were the Microsoft Tablet PCs from around ten years ago. I bought one - an Acer TravelMate - as my main computer and loved it. I even loved the special pen that was needed to write on the screen.

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Mark Bridge - BBC News

James Rosewell writes:

For those that don't regularly watch the BBC News Channel at 5pm here's a rather hasty recording of an interview with our very own Mark Bridge concerning "Quick Tap"; a rather underwhelming new mobile payment product from Orange and Barclaycard.

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New sensors can turn your smartphone into a medical tricorder

Mark Bridge writes:

Dr 'Bones' McCoy moves an electronic device over a patient’s leg encased in a plaster case. The device immediately identifies swelling within the cast, alerting the doctor to take action.

But this isn't a medical tricorder being used by the doctor. It's a Google Nexus S mobile phone. And the situation isn't set in the 23rd century. It's now.

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The Council of Europe and its plans to 'ban mobile phones in schools'

Mark Bridge writes:

Europe's leaders want mobile phones and WiFi networks banned in schools. Well, that's what the headlines appear to say.

Except - as often seems to be the case with most mobile phone health warnings - things aren't that simple. So let's start at the beginning.

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DigiMo promises a fast, simple and smart mobile payment solution

Mark Bridge writes:

Almost everyone in the mobile telecoms industry seems to be looking for a perfect payment system that'll transform their mobile phone into some kind of electronic wallet. Yet despite many trial schemes – and a few commercial launches – cards and cash are still favoured by consumers and retailers in much of the world.

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