News - Mobile News

Bamboo Distribution rebrands as Bamboo Connect to reflect broader remit

Bamboo Distribution has rebranded as *Bamboo Connect* to better reflect its expanded service offering and international growth. The company, known for providing insurance-related logistics and lifecycle management for mobile and electronic devices, says the new name aligns with its evolution into a technology-led, end-to-end fulfilment partner. “Sustainability remains central to our model. We’re continuing to

Virgin Media O2 sets up specialist team for difficult customer care issues as part of service overhaul

Virgin Media O2 has launched a dedicated UK-based customer service team to handle its complex support cases (file pic). This follows Ofcom’s investigation into the hijgh level of customer complainst about Virgin Media O2 customer care and which last month announced a plan to double its investment in customer service. The company increased the number

Samsung co-CEO Han Jong-Hee death leaves semi-conductor chief alone in top role.

Samsung Electronics Co-Chief Executive Officer Han Jong-Hee has died at the age of 63 due to a heart attack while receiving hospital treatment, the company has announced. This leaves Jun Young-Hyun, the semiconductor chief executive who was appointed co-CEO just last week, as the sole CEO of Samsung Electronics. Han,was instrumental in elevating Samsung’s television

Ofcom proposes new licensing framework for satellite direct-to-device services

Regulator outlines three potential authorisation routes as Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile lead UK charge in satellite-to-smartphone connectivity Ofcom has launched a consultation on proposals to authorise the use of mobile spectrum bands for satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D) services — a move that could transform mobile connectivity in rural and remote areas of the UK. Says Ofcom:

Vodafone’s VOXI Mobile youth-focused network reaches a million subscribers

Vodafone’s Gen Z focussed MVNO VOXI Mobile has reached a million subscribers.. Launched in 2017 as a sub-brand of Vodafone, VOXI was designed to appeal specifically to younger users with a flexible, contract-free model and unlimited access to Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Snapchat and YouTube — without eating into data allowances. “Reaching one million customers is

Three UK boosts scam protection with Bitdefender partnership

Three UK has launched a £1 a month subscription-based service, called ‘Three Device Security’ offering enhanced protection against scams, fraud, malware and phishing attacks across both Android and iOS devices. The technology is from cyber security company Bitdefender and the launch comes as Three UK reveals it blocked nearly seven million scam messages** in the

Virgin Media O2 to offer free 4G phones and discounted upgrades to Durham residents ahead of 3G switch-off

Virgin Media O2 is offering free 4G phones and discounted upgrades to people in the Durham area whose 3G devices will no longer receive service from April 2. To minimise disruption, the company is offering free 4G-ready devices to vulnerable customers and discounted upgrades to others in the area who still rely on 3G technology.

EE expands standalone 5G to more than 50 locations accessible to 28 million people.

EE is expanding its 5G standalone (5G SA) network to additional towns and cities across the UK as part of a major upgrade. The operator, which launched 5G SA in September 2024, aims to cover over 28 million people in 50 locations by the end of March 2025. The latest expansion includes towns such as

Giacom to sell Grade A used devices to channel partners with iGo Life partnership

Unified communications provider Giacom is entering the secondary market in collaboration with iGo Life which supplies as-new smartphones to businesses., Through iGo Life, Giacom will offer its partners a premium range of Grade A refurbished smartphones available from the Giacom Cloud Marketplace. This platform connects suppliers and resellers, enabling them to purchase, process, and transact

Householders are missing out on big bucks by discarding devices

People could be missing out on an average of £638 by failing to recycle old electronic devices, according to new research from Virgin Media O2. The findings, released ahead of Global Recycling Day on 18 March, estimage 92 million electronic devices— including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and gaming consoles—have been thrown out wtih household waste over

Arrests made in £11.7 million mobile phone European VAT fraud

Five people have been arrested in connection with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into an £11.7 million VAT fraud involving the trade of second-hand mobile phones. The arrested individuals have been charged with tax fraud. If convicted, they face five to 10 years in prison. Authorities seized assets worth £2 million, including houses, cars,

Rod Millar leaves Likewize to hand over to new CEO Ryan O’Hara

Likewize has named seasoned US executive Ryan O’Hara as its new CEO, taking over immediately from ex-Caudwell Group luminary Rod Millar, who has led the company since 2019. O’Hara has extensive leadership experience across technology, media, and consumer services, having held senior positions at News Corp, Madison Square Garden, and media and technology company Gemstar-TV

Virgin Media O2 to pump £700m into massive network upgrades

Virgin Media O2 plans to spend £700 million this year improving all aspects of its network. Around £2 million every day will be spent on improving reliability, speed, and coverage to meet increasing demand, with mobile traffic having more than doubled in the past five years. The investment is part of Virgin Media O2’s wider

Ericsson AI tech reduces Vodafone energy by up to a third in London trial sites

Vodafone UK and Ericsson claim 5G AI technology abd machine learning has reduced power consumption by up to a third at some London cell sites. The two companies tested Ericsson’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to reduce energy without sacrificing performance. The trial introduced three key innovations: 5G Deep Sleep – Smart algorithms

Samsung UK appoints Annika Bizon VP of Mobile Experience for UK and Ireland

Samsung Electronics UK has promoted Annika Bizon to Vice President of Product and Marketing for Mobile Experience (MX) in the UK and Ireland. The company stated: “In this role, Annika will build on the successful launch of the Galaxy S25 series and continue expanding the Galaxy AI user base. Her responsibilities have included leading Samsung’s

Labour MP continues to push Safer Phones Bill to limit kids’ smartphone use

Labour MP Josh MacAllister is pushing to limit children’s smartphone use and curb addictive social media content. In October 2024, he introduced the Safer Phones Bill, which proposes to restrict phone use. MacAllister’s Private Member’s Bill was presented to Parliament today (Friday). It seeks to make it a legal requirement for all schools in England

Apple unleashes its lawyers on UK Home Office over demands to compromise software security

Apple has reportedly initiated a legal challenge against the UK Home Office in response to a government order demanding the creation of a “back door” into its most secure cloud storage systems. According to the FT Apple filed an appeal with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent judicial body that reviews complaints against UK security

100,000 customers signed up last year for our new Smart eSIM – Honest

Challenger MVNO Honest Mobile says it has signed up 100,000 users to its new Smart eSIM which automatically switches to another network when the primary signal is weak or unavailable. For £3.75 a month, the Smart eSIM works alongside a user’s main SIM, providing unlimited data on 200+ apps via EE, O2, and Three. It

Europe networks will get access to direct satellite connectivity under new Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile agreement

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile Sign Agreement to Create European Direct-To-Device Satellite Service Provider Vodafone Group and AST SpaceMobile have signed an agreement to create a jointly-owned European satellite service business to serve network operators Europe. AST is building a space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by any smartphone for both commercial and government application, The

Eurostar Global Electronics rebrands as ege to “reflect market evolution”

Eurostar Global Electronics has rebranded itself as ‘ege’ to reflect its evolution from a reseller of end-of-life mobile devices to a comprehensive technology solutions provider. The rebrand includes a new visual identity but maintains the company’s core focus on innovation, reliability, and industry partnerships. Founded in 2007, ege began as a small reseller sourcing mobile

MWC Sunday- HONOR will spend £8bn over the next five years on becoming an AI leader

HONOR plans to transition from a smartphone manufacturer to a global leader in AI-driven device ecosystems and will invest £8bn over the next five years to accelerate AI innovation and ecosystem development. At MWC today (Sunday) the manufacturer unveiled a three-step roadmap highlights HONOR’s commitment to innovation, openness, and collaboration, inviting industry partners to co-create

MWC: Xiaomi takes Leica partnership to the next level with launch of ’15’ Series

At MWC Xiaomi today (Sunday) Xiaomi announced the 15 Series, its latest flagship smartphone lineup, The series features Leica Summilux optical lenses and is powered by Xiaomi HyperOS 2, said to offer system performance improvements, enhanced connectivity, and AI capabilities. Xiaomi also introduced Xiaomi Pad 7, Xiaomi Pad 7 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro, Xiaomi

HMD launches family-friendly device range at MWC

At MWC today (Sunday) HMD has announced its Family division with the introduction of the £229 HMD Fusion X1 developed in partnership with children’s smartwatches manufacturer Xplora. The new smartphone offers parental controls, no default social media or internet access, and continuous location tracking. Parents can manage settings remotely via a subscription starting at €4.99

GK Telecom expands ePOS system and eSIM Solution with eROAMING

GK Telecom has uograded its Digital ePOS System and eSIM eROAMING service for businesses who want to sell, activate, and manage eSIMs in real time. eROAMING was launched last year. It offers users a single global number and does away with the need for multiple SIM cards. The revised ePOS system is aimed at distributors,

February 28, 2025

Europe-wide driving tests reveal London has the worst 5G Quality of Experience

Brussels and London Lag in 5G Experience, Highlighting Need for Network Improvements Brussels and London are falling behind in 5G network performance, according to a new report from Spanish testing and benchmarking firm MedUX. London ranks last in overall mobile experience, mirroring its poor performance in 2024. The city continues to suffer from subpar 5G

February 26, 2025

Westcoast secures UK distribution deal with China accessories giant UGREEN Group

Westcoast is now an official distributor for UGREEN Group, a leading provider of USB hardware, charging accessories, and consumer electronics.

February 24, 2025

Apple turns off advanced data protection for UK users after refusing Home Office demand for a ‘back door’ into iCloud

Apple is furious that itr has been forced with withdraw its Advanced Data Protection system from iPhones and other Apple products in the UK, stating that it is “gravely disappointed” by the development. The tech giant confirmed that its opt-in Advanced Data Protection would no longer be available to users in the UK, citing concerns

February 21, 2025

Virgin Media O2 added 850k new mobile connections in ‘O4 but contract numbers dip

Virgin Media O2 has 23.2 million mobile connections across its contract and prepaid services, with 850,000 new connections added in 2024 across its O2, Giffgaff, and wholesale partners, including Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile. The company’s contract base now stands at 15.8 million , with 16,000 net additions in Q4 , marking a return to

February 21, 2025

Analysis – Apple’s iPhone 16e: affordable Innovation or sales disruptor?

The new £599 iPhone 16e, has sparked discussions about its potential impact on the sales of higher-priced iPhone models. Featuring the A18 processor, the 16e opens uo Apple Intelligence AI to wider mass market. With a 6.1-inch OLED display, and a 48-megapixel camera, the iPhone 16e offers a compelling package at a more accessible price

February 19, 2025

Vodafone sets up space research hub to develop 4G/5G satellite connectivity

Vodafone is taking mobile connectivity to new heights—literally. The company isto open Europe’s first dedicated research hub in Malaga for integrating low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite and land-based mobile broadband services. This initiative will enable seamless switching between 4G/5G networks and satellite connections using standard smartphones. The Málaga hub will focus on designing, testing, and

February 19, 2025

T-Mobile and Starlink test space-based mobile network to eliminate dead zones

T-Mobile and Starlink, have launched a free-to-use public beta of a service that connects just anout any smartphone with Starlink satellites to achieve a call connection practically anywhere in the USA. The availablility of the service comes less than two weeks after Vodafone demonstrated a satellite video call from a regular smartphone using AST SpaceMobile’s

February 13, 2025

Ericsson Private 5G turbocharges Range Rover production at Solihull

Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) Solihull factory will soon begin building Range Rovers on a production line modernised by Ericsson Private 5G. This next-generation connectivity will transform JLR’s vehicle manufacturing, integrating AI automation, machine learning, and advanced production tools. JLR is replacing traditional wired networks to cut costly and time-consuming production processes, reducing lead times from

February 13, 2025

Max Taylor reveals leadership team to run merged Vodafone and Three.

CEO of Vodafone UK Max Taylor who will be CEO of the new merged network. has anniunced his management team to run the £15 billion venture. They are: Darren Purkis (CFO) Kelly Barlow, (Strategy and Portfolio). Clare Corkish (HR) Andrea Dona (Networks), Nick Gliddon (Business). Stephen Lerner (Regulatory, Government Affairs & Company Secretary), Nicki Lyons

February 12, 2025

1m kids conned by online scams every year – Vodafone survey

Vodafone reckons nearly a million UK children have been conned by online scams over the past year. The data comes from a survey of 2,000 parents, children aged 11–16, and over 4,800 teacher. It found that 13-year-olds are the most frequently targeted. The average financial loss per scam is £103, often causing anxiety, depression, and a

February 11, 2025

EE upgrades Wembley Stadium connectivity to a standalone 5G network

Following an upgrade by EE, Wembley Stadium has become the first UK sports venue to get a 5G Standalone (SA) mobile network . The new 5G SA network will be available to the public for the first time on February 26, during England Women’s UEFA Nations League match against Spain. EE subscribers attending the game

February 10, 2025

Top Intel man takes over as Nokia president and CEO

Intel data boss Justin Hotard wil be Nokia’s new president and CEO from April 1 taking ober from Pekka Lundmark. Hotard, 50, most recently served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Data Center and AI Group, overseeing AI integration across diverse sectors. Prior to this, he held senior roles at Hewlett Packard

February 10, 2025

UK Government orders Apple to grant access to encrypted accounts – Washington Post

The UK government has issued a “technical capability notice” to Apple under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, compelling Apple to provide access to users’ encrypted iCloud data according to a report that originated in The Washington Post and which has been picked up by Reuters and The Guardian. At time of writing the Govt had

February 8, 2025

BT Group to Recruit Over 600 Apprentices and Graduates for 2025 Intake

BT Group will recruit more than 600 apprentices and graduates for its September 2025 intake in role such as cybersecurity, software engineering, and customer service. Successful candidates will be based across BT Group’s offices in cities including London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, and Sheffield, among others. This announcement follows BT Group being named the UK’s

February 7, 2025

Big Three meet with Cooper at Home Office summit over mobile phone crime epidemic

Apple, Google, and Samsung executives joined the Home Secretary, police leaders, the National Crime Agency, and Mayor of London at a conference yesterday in London to respond to a 43 per cent surge in street crime, driven by mobile phone theft. The Government is calling for a unified strategy to tackle the growing issue. Home

February 7, 2025

Virgin Media O2 to offer 100+ apprenticeship opportunities this year

Virgin Media O2 will offer more than 100 apprenticeship opportunities this year, with starting salaries of at least £22,500 and some roles paying up to £35,000. The schemes are open to applicants of all ages and are offered as permanent positions, providing job security once the fully funded training is complete. Roles will be available

February 6, 2025

Apple gatecrashes the event planning party with its own iPhone Invites app

Apple has entered the events invitation market with the launch of Apple Invites, an app that seamlessly integrates with stock iPhone apps to enhance event planning and guest engagement. This move places Apple in direct competition with platforms like Evite, Paperless Post, and Punchbowl, as well as social media tools like Facebook and WhatsApp ,

February 5, 2025

Vodafone gained 37,000 new consumer mobile contract customers in Q3 financial period

Vodafone added 37,000 new consumer contract customers in Q3 of its latest financial year. However, this growth was offset by business contract disconnections and the reclassification of part of the mobile customer base to the IoT segment. As a result, the total contract customer base saw a net increase of just 1,000 in Q3. Fixed

February 4, 2025

JCB Phones appoints ex-Doro UK chief Chris Millington as global sales director

JCB Phone, the official licensee for manufacturing rugged phones under the JCB brand, has appointed ex-Doro UK general manager Chris Millington (main pic) as global sales sirector . Millington has held senior leadership and management roles at companies including Oregon Scientific, Sony, and Kenwood . He was Managing Director at Doro between 2005 and 2017,

February 4, 2025

Isolated Hebridean islands get ultrafast broadband

While many parts of London still have broadband speeds of around 70Mb, the Hebridean islands of Tiree and Iona are set to receive ultrafast broadband. Openreach engineers are delivering this upgrade as part of the Scottish Government’s R100 fast broadban programme. The remote islands have long struggled with limited connectivity due to their isolation and

February 3, 2025

Mobile industry veteran Bav Majithia joins Zone Global team as non-executive director

Mobile channel veteran and entrepreneur Bav Majithia has joined international recommerce specialists Zone Global as a non-executive director. Majithia is the co-owner and COO of vehicle customisation and wrapping company Yiannimize and co-founded Genuine Solutions Group in 2005. His new role at Zone Global is part of the company’s global expansion strategy to scale its

January 31, 2025

Virgin Mobile O2 pledges 12,000 refurbished smartphones to charity partners in 2025

Virgin Media O2 will donate 12,000 refurbished smartphones in 2025 to Good Things Foundation and environmental charity Hubbub, its largest device donation program to date. The initiative will provide around 1,000 refurbished smartphones a month people to judged to be in ne a month to charity partners through Hubbub’s Community Calling programme and Good Things

January 30, 2025

Vodafone connects first space video call over AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites using standard phone.

Following the success of the first LEO satellite-routed video call using a regular 4G/5G device, Vodafone plans to roll out Europe’s first commercial direct-to-smartphone broadband satellite service in 2025-2026, expanding network coverage to rural and underserved areas across the continent. Operating from low Earth orbit, Vodafone says its satellite service using AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites

January 29, 2025

Ericsson to equip SailGP race venues with 5G Private Networks

Ericsson will provide 5G private networks to SailGP race venues, enabling real-time, high-quality live camera streaming from racing catamarans. This connectivity will also transmit crucial data on team locations, tactics, and strategy. Each high-performance F50 catamaran will be equipped with Cradlepoint edge routers installed in the wings of the craft, to process over 53 billion

January 29, 2025