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
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
13 May 2025
Surrey Search & Rescue taps Ericsson and UK Connect for critical connectivity
Advanced connectivity solution that includes vehicle router and ruggedised devices deployed under SARNET initiative helps search and rescue teams respond faster, improving survival outcomes Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Feb 2022
smartwatch
A smartwatch is a wearable computing device that closely resembles a wristwatch or other time-keeping device. Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2022
Open banking surpasses five million UK customers
Upwards of five million people in the UK are using open banking services as the financial sector’s fintech revolution gathers pace Continue Reading
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News
21 Feb 2022
Amazon and Visa resolve UK credit card ban threat
Companies reach ‘broad, global agreement that includes the acceptance of Visa at all Amazon stores and sites’ Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2022
January 2022 saw low growth in online sales
Slow start to the year with minimal growth for online sales as pandemic drop-off has more people heading back to the highstreet Continue Reading
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News
18 Feb 2022
Lawyers say ‘unprecedented’ secrecy deprived EncroChat defendants of fair trials
Lawyers from seven countries say it is impossible for their clients to challenge the accuracy, authenticity, reliability and legality of the evidence against them Continue Reading
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E-Zine
18 Feb 2022
CW APAC: Trend Watch - enterprise 5G
Businesses are increasingly embracing the positive effects of 5G. In this handbook, focused on enterprise 5G in the Asia-Pacific region, Computer Weekly looks at what the technology means for Australian enterprises, how Singapore is deploying 5G trials, why an Indian telco has turned to OpenStack and what AWS looks set to achieve through its launch of AWS Private 5G. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Feb 2022
It takes a village: Protecting kids online is everyone’s responsibility
The rapid uptake of smartphones among children has contributed to the increasing number of cases of cyber bullying and online grooming. Is this an educational issue or a cultural problem, and can modern enterprise help? Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2022
Hitachi Energy brings 5G connectivity to mission-critical ops
Power tech firm brings 5G connectivity to mission-critical industrial and utility operations, deploying routers to enable a hybrid wireless network described as fast, secure and reliable Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2022
New world of work sees emergence of hybrid holiday
Research from Virgin Media O2 suggests 2022 will be the year when working from anywhere becomes a reality for businesses across the UK Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2022
UK finance regulator effects changes to ‘buy now, pay later’ contract terms
BNPL finance providers have agreed to make their contracts with consumers fairer, amid concerns Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2022
NatWest group shutters 32 more branches as digital shift continues
Banking group announces more branch closures as part of its digital transformation, but promises that no customers will be left behind Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2022
How diplomatic immunity silenced the prosecutor who coordinated Sweden’s EncroChat probe
Defence lawyers claim Swedish court decision not to hear evidence from a Swedish prosecutor leaves important legal questions unanswered over international police operation to hack EncroChat cryptophone network Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2022
Call for easier consolidation as Ofcom investigates UK mobile market shake-up
UK communications regulator sets out initial thinking on how the UK mobile market might develop and how networks might need to evolve to meet future demand Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2022
New plans to slash red tape from 5G roll-out and improve mobile phone connectivity
Government announces eight pilots to simplify local authority processes to speed up 4G and 5G deployment, allowing telecoms firms to get easier access to public buildings and street lights, bus shelters and traffic lights Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2022
5G networks increase content consumption
Study reveals a near-$20bn spike in carrier billing spend over the next two years, driven by the growth in 5G-based mobile gaming and video subscriptions Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2022
UK fintech investment sees sevenfold increase in a year
UK fintech investment rose from $5.2bn in 2020 to $37.3bn in 2021, with 603 private equity, venture capital and merger and acquisition deals Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2022
Verizon takes 5G Ultra Wideband to support research at Caltech and Penn State
US operator rolls out 5G to support innovation and research at Pennsylvania State University and mobile edge computing at the Caltech Centre for Autonomous Systems and Technologies Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2022
CommScope and Parallel push Open RAN
Further acceleration in the field of open radio access networks as comms tech provider CommScope collaborates with Meta Connectivity to promote standard designs and interoperability testing across Open RAN ecosystem, while O-RAN-compliant software platform Parallel Wireless broadens partner roster Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2022
UAE chooses Accenture to develop national payments platform
Consortium led by Accenture to build new payments infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2022
French Supreme Court raises constitutional questions over EncroChat hacking secrecy
Conseil Constitutionnel to decide whether ‘defence secrecy’ over state EncroChat cryptophone hacking breaches French constitution Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2022
Google inks $1bn deal with Bharti Airtel
The wide-ranging deal covers Google’s equity investment in Airtel, as well as efforts to spur cloud adoption and lower barriers to smartphone ownership Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
UK spectrum sharing should be a spectrum policy priority, says UK SPF
UK Spectrum Policy Forum and Ofcom makes call for mobile spectrum sharing to be a policy priority as demand is expected to increase in the coming years Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
Bank account switching accelerates as consumers choose digital services
Surge in UK consumers changing current account providers is a sign that digital banking services are eating into the traditional sector Continue Reading
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News
27 Jan 2022
Orange Belgium, La Grand Poste create 5G Lab in Liège
After opening next-generation mobile laboratory in Antwerp, inviting companies to discover, test and develop innovative use cases on standalone network technology, telco signs up Wallonia tech hub as customer Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2022
MPs to debate landmark IoT security law
Proposed bill mandates tighter protections for connected products, and adds new rules for broadband roll-out into the bargain Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2022
Vodafone UK to begin 3G switch-off in 2023
UK mobile operator gives notice that it will begin to retire its legacy network in a year’s time, with 4G and 5G networks to get coverage and speed boost from repurposing of 3G spectrum Continue Reading
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News
25 Jan 2022
Open RAN on track to comprise 15% of radio access networks by 2026
Research from leading analyst and software-based networking technology provider Dell’Oro Group reveals growing progress in Open RAN arena with further acceleration over the next five years Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
Police Digital Service offers £50m contract for Tetra products and services
Delivery vehicle for the UK’s National Policing Digital Strategy announces major procurement contract for comms services and technologies Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
Advantages of traditional banks are weakening amid digital challenge, says FCA
Weakening of the advantages enjoyed by traditional banks over the years is “driven by digital innovation and changing consumer behaviour”, says regulator Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
Zopa Bank hits £1bn deposits in just 18 months
Bank has seen rapid growth since its launch and has set ambitious targets for the next 12 months Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Verizon, AWS take mobile edge to 30% more US metro area locations
Communications and cloud giants extend reach of mobile edge computing footprint in the US and announce deployment for drone and energy management applications Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Investigators find Beijing 2022 app riddled with security flaws
Security flaws in Olympic app may put personal health data at risk of compromise in a man-in-the-middle attack Continue Reading
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News
19 Jan 2022
Arizona State University taps Verizon for 5G Innovation Hub
Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband and mobile edge compute services enable researchers to develop and test real-world solutions to enhance immersive education, remote learning, virtual reality and data analytics Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2022
MEPs demand EU probe into Pegasus spyware abuse
A group of European Parliament Members has called for an EU-wide investigation into NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware after it emerged EU member states may have used it Continue Reading
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News
11 Jan 2022
EU roaming fee return creates opening for eSIM providers
Reintroduction of roaming charges by three of four telco giants sees eSIM providers lining up to take advantage Continue Reading
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Photo Story
10 Jan 2022
Blackberry OS end of support
The end of support for Blackberry's smartphone operating system represents the end of an era in mobile technology Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2022
Samsung breaks 8Gbps barrier for 5G downloads
Comms tech provider lays claim to fastest downlink speeds recorded using a single user device during tests based on 5G standalone dual connectivity that aggregates mmWave and mid-band spectrum Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2022
Digital Catapult and Formula 1 rev up for 5G
UK technology provider Digital Catapult and 5G accelerator 5PRING team up with Formula 1 to explore how 5G can elevate the experience of motor racing fans and unlock new commercial opportunities for F1 stakeholders Continue Reading
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News
06 Jan 2022
Which? raises concerns over buy now, pay later schemes
The ease of use and increased availability of buy now, pay later schemes masks the risks, says consumer protection champion Continue Reading
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News
06 Jan 2022
Qualcomm rides Snapdragon Digital Chassis into auto market
Chip giant uses CES 2022 to display automotive solutions supported by its Snapdragon portfolio to support automakers in meeting evolving consumer and enterprise demand for a connected, intelligent experience Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2022
Fintech players get cosy in Luxembourg
Luxembourg aims to play a larger role in the rapidly growing global fintech market Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2022
Nokia expands Ligado collaboration into 4G/LTE, private 5G and furthers Baltics 5G RAN
Comms tech provider to target enterprise customers with digital automation cloud private networks solution and Ligado’s 3GPP Band 24 nationwide licensed spectrum and will supply 5G RAN technology to Tele2 in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Continue Reading
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News
29 Dec 2021
Top 10 retail technology stories of 2021
Computer Weekly looks at what 2021 had in store for the retail industry – did technology help retailers recover from the effects of the pandemic? Continue Reading
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News
23 Dec 2021
UK must continue to embrace technological innovation and invest in mobile infrastructure
Video conferencing and livestreaming over mobile have entered the mainstream, but speed testing finds many users suffer from connectivity issues that prevent them from making full use of these services Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2021
Data consumption surges in lockdown Britain
Virgin Media O2 reveals performance data showing 2021 was a record year for data consumption Continue Reading
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News
22 Dec 2021
NEC delivers packet core for NTT DOCOMO 5G SA net, drives Open RAN
Leading IT and communications technology provider ends 2021 in a flurry, with services for leading Japanese operator’s standalone 5G Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2021
Three, EE agree to provide mobile connectivity across whole London Tube network
Mobile operators’ deal gives their customers coverage across London Underground with connectivity to ticket halls, platforms and tunnels Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2021
Nokia wins five-year sole vendor 5G deal with Elisa Estonia
Comms tech provider replaces incumbent supplier in enabling Baltic telco to swap out existing 4G network nationwide with 5G AirScale portfolio and develop O-RAN ecosystem Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2021
UK tech startups raise almost £30bn in record year
The UK tech sector has achieved record growth in the past 12 months after the Covid pandemic paused investment Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2021
Top 10 telecoms stories of 2021
Here are Computer Weekly’s top 10 telecoms stories of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2021
CMA wants Apple and Google to open up mobile ecosystem
Interim report from Competitions and Markets Authority finds Apple and Google exert too much control over the mobile device market Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2021
F1 accelerates into advanced networking
Networking providers boost UAE circuit’s communications infrastructure and see use in providing leading team with an agile and highly automated network platform across new technology campus Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2021
CIOs, senior IT management accelerate private 5G network deployment
Research of more than 200 CIOs and senior executives reveals the acceleration of private 5G networks as organisations look to improve security, reliability and speed Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2021
Zopa to focus on banking after closing peer-to-peer lending
Peer-to-peer lending pioneer Zopa to focus on its banking operation after the closure of its original business Continue Reading
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News
06 Dec 2021
Parents more equipped for home learning than teachers
Home learning was more easily embraced by parents than teachers, with parents saying they had the tech in place for remote schooling Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2021
Chipset shortages to put brake on 5G roll-out in 2022
Research firm reveals telecoms, media and tech trends to watch in 2022, highlighting developments in Metaverse, 5G, gaming and connectivity Continue Reading
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News
02 Dec 2021
India’s IT spending to cross $100bn mark in 2022
Led by software investments, the growth in IT spending comes as organisations in the subcontinent look to modernise their IT infrastructure and support a hybrid workforce Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
Satellite and 4G/5G-driven autonomous shuttle hits the road in Oxfordshire
Darwin Innovation Group is running an autonomous shuttle to transport passengers around Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in a one-year trial funded by UK and European space agencies to demonstrate how self-driving vehicles operate in a real-world setting, with data transmitted via O2’s mobile networks and Hispasat’s satellites Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
UK bank branch cull continues as TSB condemns 70 more
TSB’s branch closure programme gathers pace as dozens more high street premises are shuttered Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
5G becomes the fastest-deployed mobile generation to date
Tenth anniversary edition of in-depth study of mobile market reveals 5.5 billion additional smartphone users since 2011 and 4.4 billion 5G subscriptions forecast by the end of 2027 Continue Reading
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News
29 Nov 2021
Porsche revs up for private 5G in production
Leading sports car manufacturer enters into research partnership with Ericsson to take advantage of 5G networks to accelerate production capabilities at manufacturing production complex Continue Reading
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News
29 Nov 2021
Singapore telcos get more 5G spectrum
Singtel, M1-StarHub and TPG will be getting 2.1GHz spectrum to support the growth of 5G services in the city-state Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2021
UK’s surveillance culture may be normalising use of tech for abuse
Intense surveillance of public spaces by UK authorities may be playing a part in the normalisation of cyber stalking in intimate relationships Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2021
Government must prove its plans to police encryption work, says ex-cyber security chief
Ciaran Martin, the former UK cyber security chief, says the government must explain how it can access encrypted communications without damaging cyber security and weakening privacy Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2021
Consumer cyber bill to protect mobiles, smart devices
Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill will reinforce protections for consumer devices and mandate improvements to default security settings Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2021
Apple sues under-fire malware firm NSO
Lawsuit alleges spyware firm NSO Group targeted Apple’s users, adding to the pressure on the under-fire company Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2021
Hyperscalers top telcos in private network stakes
Research identifies cloud providers as first port of call for enterprises looking to deploy and gain benefits from private mobile networks, with Microsoft named top innovator ahead of AT&T and Deutsche Telekom Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2021
Mid-band dominates 5G in emerging markets
Research highlights importance of mobile operators taking advantage of globally harmonised spectrum bands and economies of scale for 5G Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Nov 2021
Men’s Mental Health Month: How fintech can reduce anxiety around debt
Umer Suleman of ethical investment firm Wahed explains how financial technology can reduce anxieties associated with debt Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2021
Ericsson boosts business play with $6.2bn Vonage acquisition
Acquisition of IP communications provider expands Ericsson’s presence in wireless enterprise and broadens its global offerings, creating a global network and communication platform for open innovation Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2021
Four-day week introduced for staff at digital bank
UK’s Atom Bank brings in four-day working week for employees with no salary reduction Continue Reading
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News
22 Nov 2021
Mobile trade-in programmes are key driver in stimulating 5G smartphone upgrades
Mobile device tracker for third quarter of 2021 shows continued year-on-year market growth, with new 5G smartphone launches and trade-in promotions contributing to growth of mobile trade-in and upgrade programmes Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Leading telcos urge Europe to act now to build Open RAN ecosystem
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telecom Italia, Telefónica and Vodafone issue five-point clarion call for building an Open RAN ecosystem for Europe to ensure that the continent continues to play a leading role in 5G and, eventually, 6G Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
UK government enshrines law to strip out ‘high-risk’ suppliers’ tech from networks
UK Telecommunications (Security) Act receives Royal Assent, mandating stronger legal duties on telecoms firms to protect the UK’s networks and giving the government new powers to control use of high-risk suppliers Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Sky ECC provided free cryptophones to a Canadian police force
Internal emails disclosed in a US court show how Sky Global supplied sample encrypted phones to a Canadian police force before its phone users became subject to an international police investigation Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2021
Cryptophone supplier Sky Global takes legal action over US government website seizures
Canadian tech company Sky Global has filed a legal motion claiming that the US government unlawfully seized the company’s internet sites following police investigations into the use of its cryptophones by organised crime Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2021
Qualcomm extends collaboration with BMW on automated driving systems
Tech giant drives into huge deal with automotive group to develop next generation of autonomous driving and driver-assistance systems Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2021
WBA, TIP team to bring open AFC for Wi-Fi in 6GHz unlicensed band
Infrastructure solutions community driving global connectivity joins forces with Wi-Fi alliance to spur adoption of 6GHz Wi-Fi and enable better user experience Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2021
Increased 5G availability sees working from home mean working from phone for 24 million
Research finds that more than eight million workers who have bought a 5G-capable smartphone since the start of the pandemic are a key driver of the switch to mobile data Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2021
Amazon to stop accepting Visa credit cards in UK due to high fees
Online retail giant Amazon will stop accepting UK Visa credit card payments from January next year Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2021
Ericsson launches Intelligent Automation Platform for smarter networks
Comms tech provider looks to bring scalability, performance and operations simplicity to mobile networks, including purpose-built and Open RAN Continue Reading
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News
16 Nov 2021
Blueprint for future high street shows tech’s role in creating thriving communities
Technology will play an important role in creating thriving communities after Covid-19 lockdowns renew interest in local high streets Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2021
WM5G, Intercity Technology unveil 5G support session for West Midlands manufacturers
5G innovation centre teams with enterprise mobility and collaboration provider to offer free sessions Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Nov 2021
Arkwright’s till, Tesco GetGo and retail tech’s non-linear innovation journey
The checkout-free Tesco GetGo store shows that retail technology has come a long way since the faulty till draws in Open All Hours, but some of today’s innovation goes back to the future Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2021
GSMA announces 5G mmWave accelerator initiative
Mobile industry trade association announces new accelerator, with an aim to drive education efforts and showcase innovation Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2021
Online sales now account for 34.4% of M&S clothing and home goods
Ongoing digital transformation sees online sales grow for M&S as pandemic consumer habits continue Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2021
Mavenir accelerates AI for enterprises with intelligent video analytics on 5G
Network software provider announces video analytics powered by NVIDIA Metropolis artificial intelligence-on-5G technology designed to transform business processes for faster decision-making Continue Reading
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News
11 Nov 2021
Lloyd v Google Supreme Court verdict brings end to privacy class actions against big tech in UK
A ruling by the Supreme Court has left it financially unviable for individuals to bring class actions in the UK against big tech companies for privacy breaches Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Nov 2021
Digital surveillance of remote workers may increase enterprise risk
From productivity tools to security threats, we explore how digital surveillance is forcing remote workers towards shadow IT Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Nov 2021
How to manage endpoint security in a hybrid work environment
The future of the workplace is clearly hybrid, but this has untold implications around endpoint security. How can businesses overcome these? Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2021
Vienna’s tech startup ecosystem gathers momentum
After a sustained period of inactivity, Vienna’s startup environment is finally on the rise again Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2021
Gig economy workforce nearly trebles over five years
Over four million people in England and Wales now work for gig economy platforms at least once a week, marking a nearly threefold increase since 2016 Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2021
More than four-fifths of firms expect to keep hybrid work environment
While business leaders are comfortable with and believe there are many benefits to hybrid work, most organisations are unprepared to deliver a seamless experience in a hybrid workplace, where the need for end-to-end data visibility and actionable insights intensifies Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2021
Sustainability: IT isn’t working
The need to sell more stuff does not fit in with the IT industry’s ambitions to go greener and become more sustainable Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2021
Qualcomm collaborates with NEC to develop open and virtualised 5G
Mobile chip giant partners with IT and network technologies provider to fast-track commercialisation and accelerate adoption of 5G open and virtualised infrastructure at scale Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
Mining deaths lawsuit against major tech companies dismissed
A legal case against five major US technology companies accused of knowingly benefiting from human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been dismissed, but victims plan to appeal Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
5G set for 2.6 billion subs by 2026
Increasing use of mobile networks to access video content, digital payments, online retail and video conferencing all contribute to 5G traffic growth, with ongoing roll-outs driving the adoption of higher data packages Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2021
Women grossly underrepresented in global fintech
Women are CEOs at less than 6% of global financial technology firms and even fewer hold top tech jobs Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Nov 2021
How in-store technology is supporting retail’s sustainability agenda
Boots, Costa Coffee and the major grocers’ in-store technology focus is switching towards systems supporting sustainability goals Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2021
Spyware firm NSO and others added to US banned Entity List
US government bans target Israeli spyware makers and cyber firms in Russia and Singapore Continue Reading