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Sunday, July 17, 2011

This week at The Fonecast: 17th July 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

Much like the mainstream media, this week’s news summary begins with ‘voicemail hacking’. In our podcast feature on Friday we spoke to industry crime-fighter Jack Wraith about the security of voice messages. He explained how remote voicemail access was now much more secure than it was ten years ago, which is good news for everyone (except dodgy investigators).

But that wasn’t the only security scare in the last few days. The Hacker's Choice explained how a modified Vodafone Sure Signal femtocell could be used to intercept calls made by Vodafone customers within 50 metres of the rogue device. It’s a loophole that Vodafone has now closed, which – again – is likely to be a disappointment to the criminally inclined.

It’s also been a busy week in app-land. Apple’s lawyers have told independent application store GetJar to stop using the term ‘app store’; a move that’s seen GetJar respond with the online equivalent of thumbing its nose. PayPal has said it’s preparing a peer-to-peer NFC solution that’ll let people pay money to friends by touching two phones against each other. Electronic Arts has announced an agreement to acquire PopCap Games, the company behind Plants vs Zombies and Bejeweled. Handmark is turning its social apps business and mobile ad services group into a new company. And Google is giving the Android Market a facelift.

Manufacturing has had a mixed week, with Sony Ericsson reporting quarterly results that weren’t as good as originally expected, while an up-beat ZTE has revealed plans for selling own-brand devices in the UK. In addition, HTC created a new global sales and marketing role for Jason Mackenzie, who’s currently president of HTC North America and Latin America.

Finally, to innovation. O2 UK launched a new location-based offers scheme called Priority Moments; potentially a threat to Groupon and to Orange Wednesdays. And Jawbone – a company best-known for its range of stylish noise-reducing Bluetooth headsets – announced mobile-connected jewellery that'll keep an eye on your health. Let’s hope no-one works out how to hack the data it collects... or we could have a new tabloid scandal on our hands!


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Opinion Articles

How the right mobile phone technology can turn anyone into a spy

Mark Bridge writes:

A few weeks ago I received a phone call out of the blue. It went something like this:
“I think my partner's cheating on me. How can I get into the GPS on his phone to find out where he is?”

I'm no secret agent. Nevertheless, it got me thinking.

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To SIM or not to SIM; that is the question

Mark Bridge writes:

The last couple of weeks have seen the ‘embedded SIM’ making headlines.

The term ‘embedded SIM’ has previously been used to describe non-phone equipment with a SIM card pre-installed in a built-in 3G modem. Technically the modem was embedded, not the SIM – but it looks as though genuinely embedded SIMs could be just around the corner.

Author: The Fonecast
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How we could use mobile technology to destroy personal privacy

Mark Bridge writes:

Head to any major city, look around and you’ll see tourists recording their visit. Some have digital cameras, some have phones and some are shooting video.

It’s the same kind of scene when you go to a concert. The performer on stage will be looking at a sea of blue faces, all illuminated by their smartphones. This, I reckon, could be the beginning of the end of privacy.

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What's the value of mHealth?

James Rosewell writes:

Any healthcare solution involving some component of mobile technology seems to come under the banner mHealth. A solution that captures information about diabetes sufferers' blood sugar levels via prompted text messages and relays this information to a physician would be considered mHealth. Providing feedback to the diabetes patient about a change in dosage following review by the physician makes the solution even better. Linking devices that automatically monitor blood sugar levels and dispense insulin involving a remote computer and physician to monitor the real-time situation moves the solution on a level still. All these examples show how mobile technology can be used to improve quality of life.

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How to mess up a customer relationship with SMS marketing

Mark Bridge writes:

Do you want to know how to foul up your customer relationships?  How to use mobile marketing to reduce customer loyalty?  Then gather around, dearly beloved, for I have a case study you're sure to appreciate.

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