Smartphone technology
Smartphone technology is the fastest growing and most competitive area of the corporate mobile phone sector, with Apple's iPhone, Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 vying to take over from Blackberry as the smartphone of choice for business users. We look at the latest developments and products and what they mean to enterprise IT.
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News
22 May 2025
Virgin Media O2 Business offers Microsoft Teams Phone Mobile
UK operator’s business division looks to offer companies seamless, secure collaboration to support flexible working and gain enhanced productivity Continue Reading
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15 May 2025
Lancashire Police extends use of Pronto tech for faster, more effective response
Northwest of England force unveils next-gen approach to policing with voice-activated systems in vehicles and livestream body cameras that give the control room real-time visibility of incidents Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
GSMA: 5G drives recovery from Covid
Research from global trade body for the mobile industry finds that, driven by China, adoption of next-generation networks will enable global economies to get back on track over the short to mid-term Continue Reading
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23 Feb 2021
Bharti Airtel, Qualcomm team to advance 5G Open RAN in India
Subcontinent’s premier communication systems provider announces partnership with leading provider of communications chips and chipsets to accelerate the adoption of next-generation networks in India Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2021
SES beams high-throughput loopback services to US DoD
Government solutions division of Luxembourg-based satellite operator uses O3b medium earth orbit constellation to deliver mission-critical communications to the edge in Asia Continue Reading
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22 Feb 2021
Huawei: Mobile 5G and wireless home broadband set to triple in 2021
Keynote by leading executive predicts booming 5G market set to rise in the next 12 months and reveals first use case for 5G business suite in industrial mobile Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2021
Ericsson accelerates 5G mid-band roll-outs with mMIMO, RAN Compute lines
Swedish comms tech provider expands MIMO portfolio and radio access network solutions to enhance network performance with what it claims is optimised energy efficiency and reduced carbon footprint with new mid-band products, including 20kg flagship 64T Massive radio product Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2021
Microphones, smartphones, laptops among items stolen from BBC
A total of 105 devices have been stolen from the BBC in the past two years, some of which may have been spirited away by remote workers Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2021
5G network densification and mMIMO to drive mobile net spend to US$191bn by 2026
Finding MIMO pivotal to driving massive uptake in cellular infrastructure expenditure over the next five years Continue Reading
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19 Feb 2021
Orange aims for pole with Totem on back of ‘solid’ fiscal year
Global telco claims to have defied Covid-19 with solid fiscal year and looks to the future with increased 5G penetration and new mobile tower business. Continue Reading
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19 Feb 2021
Nokia wins multi-year 5G radio and core contract with A1 Austria
Central European telco signs further deal with Finnish comms provider to begin commercial implementation of 4G and 5G network slicing following successful pilot Continue Reading
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19 Feb 2021
Tech shortfalls erode company culture in mid-size businesses
Nearly half of European office workers feel their company culture has suffered due to coronavirus restrictions, with companies faced with the difficult task of creating a supportive, digital-driven company culture that works for everyone Continue Reading
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18 Feb 2021
C Spire taps Amdocs for 5G wireless policy and charging
US telco makes key 5G technology investment to be able to offer what it says will be the ‘most innovative’ 5G customer experience now and in the future Continue Reading
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16 Feb 2021
CSPs overlook SMEs as major source of 5G revenue
Study finds communications service providers are failing to recognise the vast potential of the SME arena as a major source of B2B revenue, especially on 5G Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
Altran, Qualcomm collaborate for 5G NR small cell software
Altran and Qualcomm join forces to expedite development of high-speed, low-latency private and public 5G small cells Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
BT fibres up UK Covid-19 vaccination centres
As NHS announces that 15 million people have received first dose of Covid-19 vaccine across UK, BT reveals its role in helping health service to achieve milestone by connecting more than 100 vaccination centres to high-speed connectivity and Wi-Fi Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2021
Digital investments will add £232bn to UK economy by 2040
The UK economy could grow by £232bn over the next two decades if investments in digital technologies continue Continue Reading
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15 Feb 2021
Sun shines on first private cellular campus smart manufacturing network in Greece
Supporting the digital transformation of Greek enterprises, comms tech provider implements connectivity system based on the deployment of a private cellular campus network at solar thermal products provider Continue Reading
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12 Feb 2021
Nokia furthers Open RAN push with CPQD partnership
Collaboration between Nokia and CPQD set to explore Open RAN-compliant RIC platform to develop 5G use cases such as fixed wireless access smart cities and Industry 4.0 Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2021
Masergy, Cisco construct UCaaS collaboration solution
SD-WAN provider teams with networking and collaboration technology giant to address distributed enterprises’ communications needs Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2021
More than $2bn returned to US consumers through mobile device trade-ins in 2020
Market falls back, but old comms devices maintain value in 2020 despite Covid-19, with $786m returned to US consumers in Q4 2020 alone, representing a 38% rise from Q3 for the secondary device market Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
First phase of Shared Rural Network set to bring £187m boost to UK rural businesses
Operator-commissioned study claims first phase of scheme to reduce partial not-spots in the UK could mean rural communities contribute an added £58.9m to UK GDP each year Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
Companies call for new breed of enterprise network operator for greater IoT control
Survey finds almost half of those controlling decisions on the deployment of internet of things technology and services would like to own a dedicated network in-house Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
Société Générale adopts work-from-home policy
French bank formalises remote working policy after discussions with labour unions Continue Reading
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10 Feb 2021
Vodafone UK adds Digitalk to MVNO portfolio
UK telco taps global mobile virtual network enabler service provider, offering cloud-based real-time communications platforms, to assist in on-boarding partners to virtual network Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
Sim-swapping crooks targeted celebrities, influencers
Eight arrests have been made in England and Scotland in connection with a series of Sim-swapping attacks targeting high-profile victims Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
NHS Covid-19 app alerts 1.7 million contacts
More than 1.7 million users asked to isolate by UK app as a result of a close contact since launch, helping to break chains of transmission and prevent the deaths of thousands, says developer Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
BT claims £24bn value as it enables new customer experience for Walgreens Boots
As it announces role in delivering transformation for pharmacy chain, BT reveals data showing that it employs one in every 12 people in UK’s IT and communications sector Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2021
CityFibre lights up Yorkshire cities with gigabit connectivity
Former altnet turned UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform provider announces plan to transform two of the White Rose county’s largest conurbations into digitally connected cities Continue Reading
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05 Feb 2021
EncroChat: Appeal court finds ‘digital phone tapping’ admissible in criminal trials
Appeal Court decides EncroChat-encrypted phone records can be used in criminal trials. Critics say the decision means phone tapping no longer has a ‘clear meaning in the digital age’ Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
Mayor of London launches digital inclusion initiative
Taskforce focused on increasing digital inclusion in London will promote digital skills and increase access to devices and connectivity Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
Telcos flesh out 5G volumetric use cases
NTT DoCoMo and BT among first telcos to examine the potential of technology that will enable large, high-quality interactive 3D files to be streamed to 5G mobile devices and viewed directly through a browser, along with AR/VR. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2021
RAN returns strong growth but Nokia prepares for challenging year ahead
Comms tech provider claims solid Q4, full year 2020 performance but anticipates “meaningful headwinds” in year of transition Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
Revolut rewrites policy to include permanent remote working
Challenger finance firm Revolut is redesigning its office spaces and introducing permanent remote working policies Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
Has Covid-19 made bank branch closures easier to sell?
Big banks continue to close branches and invest more in technology as the Covid-19 pandemic makes a case for digital banking Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
Broadband speed boost sees UK home values jump by £3,500
UK government survey quantifies added value of access to superfast broadband, which is now said to have pushed broadband speeds up a gear for 5.5 million homes across the country, creating £2.7bn of economic benefits including 17,600 jobs Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
EE, BT team to ‘redefine’ home broadband with BT Halo 3+
Comms provider and mobile division announce new hybrid connect device, claiming to combine full-fibre home broadband, Wi-Fi and UK’s fastest mobile network Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2021
EE 5G mobile usage increases by 40% over last quarter of 2020
Surge in use of next-generation networks for BT-owned mobile service over the festive period with video, especially news, causing spikes Continue Reading
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02 Feb 2021
Latency higher priority than speed as IT leaders look to gain edge
Business leaders believe success depends on low latency, namely 10ms or less to ensure the success of their applications, with three-quarters requiring 5ms or less for edge initiatives Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2021
Nordic countries dominate European online banking take-up
Nordics dominate online banking take-up in Europe, but the UK is not far behind Continue Reading
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01 Feb 2021
Enterprise 5G network slicing to carve out $20bn revenues over next five years
Research highlights dedicated network allocation technique as an enabler for new value creation as communications service providers bolster their capabilities to go beyond connectivity revenues Continue Reading
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01 Feb 2021
O2 and NEC claim Open RAN trial success
Leading UK mobile operator teams reveal positive results from open radio access network test with IT and network technologies provider, including virtualised RAN software and hardware from GigaTera Communications, Supermicro among others Continue Reading
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01 Feb 2021
Qualcomm ramps up 5G with French research and development centre
Brittany and Paris Region colocated R&D facility set up to boost chip giant as it embarks on next-generation network objectives Continue Reading
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01 Feb 2021
5G to the fore as Ericsson beats expectations in financial year
Strong year recorded by comms tech firm from continued high activity levels in North America, Northeast Asia and Europe, with 5G strong Continue Reading
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29 Jan 2021
Dell, SK Telecom, VMware bring 5G edge to enterprises
IT giants team with telco to collaborate on an integrated multi-access edge computing system with the aim of providing more secure and reliable access to data at edge locations Continue Reading
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News
29 Jan 2021
Telcos accelerate digital transformation but revenues remain store-based
Report reveals operators still rely mainly on physical channels to sell their products and services, but know the value that digital sales can create for them Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2021
More than one in six households struggling to afford broadband in UK
With UK lockdown persisting and education online until March at the earliest, research finds broadband customers in receipt of low-income benefits almost twice as likely to struggle to pay their bill than other customers Continue Reading
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28 Jan 2021
Smartphone industry roars back in Q4 2020 as iPhone propels Apple to new heights
The past 12 months as a whole may have been challenging for the smartphone industry, but the industry enjoyed an end-of-year renaissance driven by a staggering $66bn worth of iPhone sales Continue Reading
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28 Jan 2021
JP Morgan Chase hires for UK digital bank launch
US banking giant hires in the UK in preparation for digital consumer bank launch Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
UK broadband customers count cost of quietly expired contracts
Almost three million UK high-speed broadband customers – a third of those whose deal ended in the past year – say they were not informed when their contract ended, as mandated by the UK comms regulator, costing around £90 per household Continue Reading
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27 Jan 2021
Grindr complaint results in €9.6m GDPR fine
Norway’s data protection authority plans to apply a fine totalling 10% of LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr’s revenues over its data sharing practices Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2021
Emergency Apple updates patch exploited zero-days
Three vulnerabilities could give attackers full control of their target Apple devices, and must be patched immediately Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2021
Virtualisation, automation and network slicing increasing operators’ focus
Research reveals added pressure on networks in the post Covid-19 world, with access network performance as the primary factor that most impacts subscriber experience Continue Reading
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26 Jan 2021
Barratt enlists UK network leaders to install full-fibre broadband across all new homes
At a time when the country has never been so dependent on fast and reliable home broadband, leading house builder has teamed with UK broadband leaders to ensure new builds are in the digital fast lane Continue Reading
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26 Jan 2021
Telia takes Ericsson 5G to transform industrial inspection as Project Reindeer runs
New partnership will benefit Swedish industry by performing livestream industrial inspections via drones, while more details are released on Ericsson’s EU-funded 6G initiative Continue Reading
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26 Jan 2021
Virgin to enter UK 5G fray but regulator delays 5G spectrum auction
UK operator marks ‘milestone’ moment in its history with 5G offer to add to gigabit broadband, but Ofcom puts on hold the process to gain mid-band frequencies Continue Reading
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26 Jan 2021
Wireless Broadband Alliance rolls out roadmap for 5G, Wi-Fi 6 convergence
New industry guidelines highlight critical role next-generation wireless technology will play in the long-term success of 5G, outlining convergence opportunities for optimising business innovation and customer experience Continue Reading
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25 Jan 2021
NEC announces 3x MIMO capacity gain for mmWave 5G CPE
Aiming to contribute to the development of mmWave 5G mobile access networks and building ecosystems among operators and suppliers, tech giant claims landmark achievement Continue Reading
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25 Jan 2021
GSMA: mmWave 5G showing signs of market readiness
With 5G roll-outs and adoption progressing quickly and with the mmWave ecosystem showing signs of readiness, the main question the mobile industry faces is where and when mmWave systems can be cost-effective Continue Reading
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22 Jan 2021
Vodafone unveils ‘instant’ Wi-Fi
Telco targets digital households and small businesses with new mobile router for use cases including support for video calling, streaming and online learning Continue Reading
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22 Jan 2021
BT connects Dutch diplomatic missions
New software-defined network services designed to enable secure collaboration and support digital transformation of network supporting Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs Continue Reading
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22 Jan 2021
Nine out of 10 UK card payments in 2020 were contactless
Contactless cards payments accounted for around 90% of card payments in the UK in 2020 Continue Reading
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21 Jan 2021
Optus taps Nokia for 5G tech to enhance stadium experiences
With crowds slowly returning to outdoor venues in Australia after lockdown, comms tech provider and leading local operator deliver gigabit wireless in-stadium connectivity Continue Reading
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21 Jan 2021
Nokia, Mobily unveil world’s first sliced FWA deployment
Global comms tech provider teams with Saudi Arabian telco to pilot world’s first 4G and 5G fixed wireless access network slicing on a live commercial network Continue Reading
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21 Jan 2021
European telecoms big guns team up to drive Open RAN deployments
Major regional operators embark upon collaboration to provide a framework for the creation of an interoperable market for Open RAN Continue Reading
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20 Jan 2021
Few workers see employers as ready for new normal
Study finds vast majority of workers feel employers are not fully prepared to support the longer-term move to a hybrid workforce, prompting a need for organisations to plan their ‘future workplace’ better Continue Reading
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20 Jan 2021
HSBC closing more branches as customers turn to digital channel
Bank announces branch closures as it reshapes its network for the digital age Continue Reading
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20 Jan 2021
Broadcast, media sector presents telcos with digital transformation opportunities
Analyst sets out potential winning strategy for telcos in entertainment sector with 5G, multi-access edge computing and network slicing, as well as virtualisation and cloud Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jan 2021
Five not the only magic number for Three in 2021
With a new CEO beginning to put into practice its plan, mainly a pivot towards business, mobile operator Three UK has been eyeing up new opportunities in 2021. We see what is on the agenda Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2021
Mavenir, VIAVI enter into collaboration to validate 5G RAN options for US market
Partnership will focus on lab testing of cloud-native radio access systems for major US mobile network operators Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2021
Legacy security architectures threaten to disrupt remote working
Annual survey of IT leaders finds network security is of prime concern as most companies continue with work-from-home policies Continue Reading
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19 Jan 2021
AE Aerospace claims 5G landmark in transforming manufacturing productivity
Leading UK manufacturing business and partners trial 5G to pioneer productivity improvements and drive recovery in key sector hit hard by Covid Continue Reading
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18 Jan 2021
Three UK, Tata team to accelerate 5G network roll-out
IT services, consulting and business solutions provider employed to help UK operator configure and maintain its next-generation mobile network and ensure first time right network operations Continue Reading
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15 Jan 2021
Google Cloud, Nokia accelerate readiness for cloud-native enterprise 5G solutions
Cloud platform provider and comms tech supplier announce plans to jointly develop cloud-native 5G core solutions for communications service providers and enterprise customers with cloud capabilities to the network edge to accelerate enterprise digital transformation Continue Reading
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14 Jan 2021
BT cries foul on rivals’ coverage claims as O2, EE extend UK 5G nets
Two of the UK’s mobile giants make significant additions to next-gen networks, but BT consumer CEO warns that rivals are not giving customers meaningful levels of coverage and quality in their 5G offers Continue Reading
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14 Jan 2021
Port of Felixstowe lands funding for UK government 5G trial
UK’s largest and busiest container port to test the potential of 5G across two use cases: enabling remotely controlled cranes and optimising predictive maintenance though IoT and AI Continue Reading
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14 Jan 2021
Zoom reveals phone product spike, public offer price
Strong service performance, reliability and enterprise-grade features drive uptake of Zoom Phone as still rapidly growing conferencing firm announces $1.75bn share offering Continue Reading
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13 Jan 2021
Yearly expectations smashed with £105bn spent on mobile apps in 2020
With the world of work changed forever due to the Covid-19 pandemic, mobile apps cash in, with consumer spend increasing 20% annually with business apps showing particular spike in usage Continue Reading
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13 Jan 2021
EE 5G to deliver BBC Green Planet augmented reality experience
Increased 5G network capacity will enable AR experience for landmark BBC series using holographic video to explore the world from the perspective of plants Continue Reading
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13 Jan 2021
Covid-19 immunity passport tests to begin in UK
A Covid-19 immunity and vaccination passport developed by two UK firms and backed by Innovate UK has entered the live testing phase Continue Reading
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12 Jan 2021
Virgin Media aims for in-home connectivity transformation with Intelligent WiFi Plus
As it ramps up gigabit network development in locations across the UK, cableco launches Wi-Fi access devices to work with new access system to bring up to three times faster in-home wireless speeds Continue Reading
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11 Jan 2021
BT removes mobile data charges for BBC Bitesize educational content
As part of a broader partnership between the UK’s public broadcaster and its incumbent telco, hugely popular and award-winning BBC Bitesize programming slot is to be zero rate for all EE, BT Mobile and PlusNet Mobile customers Continue Reading
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11 Jan 2021
Used smartphone sales to dial in near double-digit growth in 2020
Research shows refurbished and used devices continue to provide cost-effective alternatives for businesses looking to save money when buying a smartphone Continue Reading
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08 Jan 2021
Government use of 'general warrants' to authorise computer and phone hacking is unlawful
A court has ruled that the security and intelligence services can no longer rely on ‘general warrants’ to authorise the hacking of large numbers of computers and phones belonging to UK citizens Continue Reading
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08 Jan 2021
BT offers unlimited data for remote learning
UK incumbent telco joins campaign to make sure disadvantaged children can get connected as Covid-19 lockdown closes schools and other educational establishments Continue Reading
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07 Jan 2021
Nordic digital innovation offers a proactive approach to mental health
Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to support people suffering mental health issues – and digital technology can help Continue Reading
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07 Jan 2021
Jeremy Darroch steps down as Sky Group chief executive
Exec who transformed former satellite TV provider into Europe’s largest multi-platform communications provider with mobile, telephony and FTTH steps down after 13 years Continue Reading
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06 Jan 2021
Qualcomm appoints new CEO
Claiming validation of its business model and leadership in 5G, the communications chip giant appoints successor to retiring chief executive with brief to drive value Continue Reading
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06 Jan 2021
Viasat checks in with Delta to boost in-air connectivity
US airline adds next-generation Ka-band satellite technology to mainline fleet to help modernise how passengers stay connected and enjoy content during travel Continue Reading
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06 Jan 2021
Operators join UK government’s kids’ mobile access scheme
UK mobile operators join scheme to help families that need access to connectivity to support their child’s learning needs during the latest lockdown, while BCS calls for free mobile access to education sites Continue Reading
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05 Jan 2021
Banking trade body calls for increased contactless payment limit
UK Finance proposes an increase in the limit on spending using contactless cards Continue Reading
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05 Jan 2021
Ooredoo Group expands Ericsson 5G tech agreement
New agreement promises new functionalities with faster time-to-market and enhancements to the digital experience for people, enterprises and industries across operating companies in 10 countries Continue Reading
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05 Jan 2021
Qualcomm expands 5G capabilities of Snapdragon 480 mobile devices
Enhanced mobile platform line claimed to be able to accelerate global 5G commercialisation and deliver ‘series-defying’ features to mass-volume smartphone segment Continue Reading
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04 Jan 2021
Ericsson to power DTAC 5G network in Thailand
Almost half of Thailand’s 70 million population to be served by a new 5G radio access network from leading local communications service provider DTAC Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Dec 2020
Innovation at the shelf edge
It’s been a challenging year for stores due to Covid-19, but some retailers have found time to innovate at the shelf edge with noteworthy technology deployments Continue Reading
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30 Dec 2020
Top 10 telecoms and mobile stories of 2020
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 telecoms and mobile stories of 2020 Continue Reading
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29 Dec 2020
Top 10 financial services stories of 2020
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 financial services IT stories of 2020 Continue Reading
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23 Dec 2020
5G coverage set to reach over half of global population by 2025
Despite 5G deployment still facing various challenges, operators are making progress in addressing major issues Continue Reading
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22 Dec 2020
Top 10 retail technology stories of 2020
Computer Weekly looks at what 2020 had in store for the retail industry – just how did technology help retailers adapt to changing customer behaviour during the pandemic? Continue Reading
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21 Dec 2020
5G roll-outs to continue apace in 2021
New 5G launches will be led by telcos in forerunner markets, but the industry’s near-term outlook will depend on the timing of an economic recovery Continue Reading
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21 Dec 2020
Gigabit proliferates as UK’s fixed and mobile networks take the strain from Covid
The UK’s fixed and mobile networks take the strain of remote working and increased online entertainment uptake Continue Reading
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17 Dec 2020
Huge uptick in global 5G deployment across 2020
Although yet to fully accommodate the boost it got from the recent launch of suitably enabled iPhones, the 5G market has enjoyed a strong third quarter, according to data from mobile testing specialist Continue Reading