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.

News 21 Feb 2023
Singtel eyes retailers with enterprise 5G offerings

Singtel teams up with Apple’s enterprise solution partners to drive 5G adoption among retailers with industry-specific offerings aimed at improving retail operations and customer experience Continue Reading
News 03 Aug 2022
More than 60% of world population will use digital wallets by 2026

Global take-up of digital wallets will accelerate over the next four years, driven by ‘super apps’ and QR code-based payments Continue Reading

News 05 May 2023

Open banking use to increase 470% in next four years, driven from Europe

Europe is leading the surge in the take-up of API-based open banking services, according to Juniper Research Continue Reading
News 04 May 2023

Google debuts passwordless login options for users

Launch of Google’s passkey service hailed as a great leap forward for passwordless technology Continue Reading
News 04 May 2023

Age UK calls for physical banking hubs as older people demand face-to-face banking

UK charity calls for banks and government to speed up the introduction of physical banking hubs as research reveals millions of older people don’t bank online Continue Reading
News 03 May 2023

Mystery Apple security update sparks speculation

Apple releases its first Rapid Security Response update for iPhone, iPad and Mac devices, but users are in the dark about what security problems they have fixed Continue Reading
News 28 Apr 2023

Government is playing ‘psychic war’ in battle over end-to-end encryption

Peers hear that the UK government is being deliberately ambiguous about its plans to require technology companies to scan the content of encrypted messages Continue Reading
News 26 Apr 2023

M1 doubles down on maritime 5G

Seafarers will be able to access telemedicine services while out at sea, among other maritime 5G applications M1 is rolling out in Singapore’s waters Continue Reading
News 25 Apr 2023

UAE improves healthcare through information technology

Health authorities in the United Arab Emirates are increasing their emphasis on new, smart technologies to modernise healthcare services Continue Reading
Feature 24 Apr 2023

From Nokia to Merge Mansion: Helsinki’s tech expertise is sparking a new era for global gaming

Helsinki has a reputation as the go-to place for game development, and now the city’s tech community is taking gaming into new areas Continue Reading
News 20 Apr 2023

UK Emergency Alert Test sparks cyber fraud warning

Fraudsters and scammers are likely to use the upcoming test of the UK's new mobile Emergency Alert system as bait in their attacks, while misinformation and conspiracy theories spread Continue Reading
News 19 Apr 2023

Volvo gets into gear with Qualcomm to drive connectivity for EX90 Excellence

Mobile chip and platform provider’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis deployed by car giant to enable highly connected driving experiences in EX90 and EX90 Excellence vehicles Continue Reading
News 13 Apr 2023

AstraZeneca launches African healthtech hub

AstraZeneca has launched its latest healthcare innovation hub, which will focus on using digital technology to improve healthcare in Africa Continue Reading
News 05 Apr 2023

Developers say Apple and Google are running app store monopolies

Coalition for App Fairness and its members speak to Computer Weekly about alleged anti-competitive practices of Apple and Google in their respective app stores, and call for urgent regulatory action to level the playing field Continue Reading
News 03 Apr 2023

Lloyds and NatWest banks join Barclays in latest round of branch closures

Lloyds and NatWest banks announce more branch closures as UK high streets continue to be stripped of banking services Continue Reading
News 28 Mar 2023

Apple security updates fix 33 iPhone vulnerabilities

A larger-than-usual update to Apple’s mobile operating system fixes more than 30 distinct vulnerabilities, including two serious issues that may potentially affect device kernels Continue Reading
News 24 Mar 2023

Over a third of UK’s online transactions used digital wallets

Mobile phone-based digital wallets are fast becoming a preferred method of buying goods and services online Continue Reading
News 17 Mar 2023

UK TikTok ban gives us all cause to consider social media security

The UK government’s ban on TikTok should give all organisations cause to look into what information social media platforms are collecting on us, and what they are using it for Continue Reading
Feature 14 Mar 2023

As Covid fades away, what’s the future of remote work in Europe?

Many IT leaders are still supporting some form of work from home, and a trend is beginning to take shape in Europe Continue Reading
News 07 Mar 2023

Nationwide goes cloud native to transform payments

Nationwide Building Society is moving retail payments from on-premise systems to a cloud-native platform Continue Reading
News 28 Feb 2023

Two years on from the Kalifa report, UK fintechs speak out

Two years after the UK government’s Kalifa fintech report, entrepreneurs warn of a continuing Brexit headache and slow regulatory reform Continue Reading
News 28 Feb 2023

Government announces national fintech hub

The UK Treasury has announced a centre for fintech innovation, two years after a major report recommended one Continue Reading
News 22 Feb 2023

Researchers find new bug ‘class’ in Apple devices

A group of vulnerabilities in Apple products that stem from the ForcedEntry exploit used by spyware firm NSO constitutes a whole new class of bug, say researchers at Trellix Continue Reading
News 21 Feb 2023

Singtel eyes retailers with enterprise 5G offerings

Singtel teams up with Apple’s enterprise solution partners to drive 5G adoption among retailers with industry-specific offerings aimed at improving retail operations and customer experience Continue Reading
News 17 Feb 2023

BT launches IoT national roaming network

UK’s leading telco switches on dedicated internet of things frameworks for businesses across the UK, allowing them to keep smart devices connected wherever they are, using both its own EE network and those of other MNOs, where required Continue Reading
News 15 Feb 2023

UK saw fintech investment collapse in 2022, but is still a world leader

Fintech investment in the UK sees steep drop, but the country was still a top destination for capital Continue Reading
News 10 Feb 2023

BNPL accounted for 12% of UK online spending in January

Buy now, pay later products from fintech providers accounted for 12% of the £8bn spent online in the UK in January, according to analysis Continue Reading
News 10 Feb 2023

Qualcomm looks to new wave of 5G devices with Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF

Comms tech giant intros world’s first 5G NR-light Modem-RF system with lower cost, reduced complexity, decreased power consumption and smaller form factors Continue Reading
News 09 Feb 2023

Cost-of-living crisis creates appetite to switch banks

As millions of Brits struggle with their finances, many view tailored financial services as beneficial Continue Reading
News 08 Feb 2023

India launches homegrown BharOS

The homegrown Android-based mobile operating system could reduce India’s reliance on foreign software, but uncertainties around market adoption and software updates remain Continue Reading
News 07 Feb 2023

TSB pilots pods as branch replacements

TSB joins Barclays in adopting banking pods to ensure customers have access to physical banking services as the number of high street branches declines Continue Reading
News 06 Feb 2023

Cops make arrests and seize drugs after hacking Exclu encrypted messaging app

Police in the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland raided 80 addresses after covertly intercepting messages from the Exclu encrypted messaging app Continue Reading
News 01 Feb 2023

Malware variant can block contactless payments

Kaspersky warns that the latest variant of the Prilex malware can block contactless payments to force people to insert cards, enabling criminals to steal money Continue Reading
News 23 Jan 2023

UK government reveals further ESN contract details

Latest chapter in UK Emergency Services Network saga sees termination of Motorola contract for comms equipment and supplies, software packages and software development services Continue Reading
News 17 Jan 2023

Connectivity critical for UK entrepreneurs

Research from BT Business reveals three-quarters of British entrepreneurs feel they couldn’t run a business without reliable broadband and mobile connectivity Continue Reading
News 16 Jan 2023

Cash use rises for first time in 13 years as cost of living increases

The number of cash withdrawals increased last year, for the first time in 13 years, but remains below the pre-Covid-19 figure Continue Reading
16 Jan 2023

MI6 chief’s hacked emails attacked MI5 and betrayed British spy operations in China

Former UK spy boss Richard Dearlove leaked names of MI6 secret agent recruiters in China to back an aggressive right-wing US campaign against tech company Huawei. His emails were hacked and then leaked – probably by Russian intelligence Continue Reading
News 12 Jan 2023

UK government completes trials of age estimation technology

Government-led trials of age estimation and verification technologies for the sale of alcohol in nightlife venues and supermarkets have been completed, with both government and retail lobbyists pushing for legislation that would allow retailers to adopt the tools for alcohol sales Continue Reading
News 11 Jan 2023

eSIM market to be worth over $4bn globally by end of 2023

2023 set to be the year of embedded subscriber identity module as Google and Samsung look likely to emulate rival Apple, leading to a drastic increase in the number of smartphones with eSIM connectivity Continue Reading
News 05 Jan 2023

Cashless Denmark has no bank robberies in a year for first time

Denmark saw no bank robberies in a single year for the first time ever, but online fraud continues to increase Continue Reading
News 03 Jan 2023

Test of digital ID tech at Surrey nightclub proclaimed success

The majority of visitors to a Camberley venue who piloted a digital identification app developed by 1account said they found it easy to use and preferred it to standard physical ID Continue Reading
News 28 Dec 2022

Complaints that NCA failed in duty of candour over EncroChat warrants ‘incredible’, court hears

NCA lawyers argue that a decision by an NCA intelligence officer to disclose notes of a key meeting after two-and-a-half years boosts her credibility as a witness Continue Reading
News 22 Dec 2022

NCA ‘wrong-footed’ defence lawyers after agreeing to take expert evidence on EncroChat ‘as read’

The National Crime Agency argued at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that expert evidence it agreed to ‘take as read’ is limited, flawed and often based on an incorrect interpretation of the law Continue Reading
News 19 Dec 2022

BT C-RAN 5G architecture pilot scheme live in Leeds

BT takes next-gen mobile connectivity a stage further with a 5G pilot scheme to enhance coverage and connectivity in key UK city enabling local customers to access faster, more reliable speeds Continue Reading
News 16 Dec 2022

Defence lawyers claim NCA witness gave unreliable evidence on EncroChat hacking operation

National Crime Agency argues that the lawfulness of surveillance warrants issued to hack the EncroChat phone network should only be considered in the light of facts and assessments known at the time Continue Reading
News 15 Dec 2022

NCA officer questioned in Investigatory Powers Tribunal over failure to disclose EncroChat notes

EncroChat hacking warrant was unlawful and in breach of human rights law, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal hears Continue Reading
News 13 Dec 2022

More Uber data exposed in possible supply chain attack

A second incident affecting ride-sharing app Uber appears to have originated through a third party in a supply chain attack Continue Reading
News 08 Dec 2022

Apple to tap third party for physical security keys

Apple is launching a number of new security protections, including the addition of third-party-provided hardware security keys Continue Reading
News 01 Dec 2022

MI6 chief’s hacked emails attacked MI5 and betrayed British spy operations in China

Former UK spy boss Richard Dearlove leaked names of MI6 secret agent recruiters in China to back an aggressive right-wing US campaign against tech company Huawei. His emails were hacked and then leaked – probably by Russian intelligence Continue Reading
News 30 Nov 2022

SMEs put faith in communications technology

Study from orchestration and digital platform provider shows a ‘new’ kind of small and medium-sized enterprise market, with companies already adopting connectivity technology for business resilience Continue Reading
News 30 Nov 2022

Nearly $1bn in mobile trade-ins and upgrades in third quarter of 2022

Just more than halfway into what is always the market’s busiest quarter, quarterly analysis of smartphone trade-in and upgrade industry reveals a third quarter of 2022 with the amount returned estimated at $970m, making this the highest third quarter recorded Continue Reading
News 30 Nov 2022

eSIM proves green credentials

Independent study by provider of adapted system integration technologies at wafer, chip and board level confirms eSIM as an environmentally friendly SIM solution Continue Reading
News 30 Nov 2022

Scotland launches national digital platform for health and care

The online platform aims to give people access to their health and social care data, as well as provide staff with access to data to inform decisions about care Continue Reading
News 29 Nov 2022

Cyber criminals exploiting naked TikTok ‘challenge’

Malware operators lured targets by promising them they would be able to view nude videos of TikTok users Continue Reading
News 23 Nov 2022

UK police arrest 120 in largest-ever cyber fraud crackdown

The administrator and more than 100 users of the iSpoof.cc cyber fraud website have been arrested in a major counter-fraud operation led by the Metropolitan Police Continue Reading
News 15 Nov 2022

NHS Scotland extends video consultation scheme

The Scottish Near Me video consultation platform can now be used in community settings such as libraries and health and care centres for GP appointments, hospital appointments, care homes, dietetics and mental health support Continue Reading
News 14 Nov 2022

Orange takes 5G to Africa

New healthcare, education and security services to be enabled in Southern African country as global telco unveils first affiliate in continent of Africa to launch 5G commercially Continue Reading
News 14 Nov 2022

Orange Belgium sets new 5G standard in Liège

Belgian subsidiary of global telco adds to portfolio of 5G Labs in the country, showcasing new 5G use cases together with industries local to key city of Wallonia Continue Reading
News 11 Nov 2022

Qualcomm claims 5G standalone mmWave milestone in China

Noting 5G standalone mmWave is poised to unlock new capabilities for enterprises, mobile chip giant reveals high-level mmWave performance in anticipation of commercial deployment in China Continue Reading
News 31 Oct 2022

Cyber crime officer says French legal challenges to EncroChat are ‘hype’

Matthieu Audibert, officer of the French Gendarmerie’s cyber space command, gets into a spat with defence lawyers on Twitter over the lawfulness of evidence from the hacked phone network EncroChat Continue Reading
News 28 Oct 2022

Virgin Media O2 trials 5G drone in Snowdonia

Comms operator trials new 5G drone technology to increase safety for millions of visitors at North Wales national park, delivering network coverage to remote areas and helping emergency services to respond to distress calls better Continue Reading
News 25 Oct 2022

Apple patches new iPhone zero-day

Apple’s latest patch fixes yet another zero-day, as security issues keep surfacing in its mobile products Continue Reading
News 25 Oct 2022

Dutch lawyers raise human rights concerns over hacked cryptophone data

Dutch defence lawyers say in an open letter that there is a risk of unfair trials unless they are allowed to test the reliability and legitimacy of hacked cryptophone evidence Continue Reading
News 25 Oct 2022

Sainsbury’s outsources for cloud-first benefits

Retailer signs multi-year IT services contract with Tata Consultancy Services to support move to cloud-first strategy Continue Reading
News 19 Oct 2022

Lloyds Bank launches innovation sandbox

Banking group establishes a sandbox where fintechs can build and test applications for Lloyds Continue Reading
News 17 Oct 2022

CMA issues proposals to prevent emergency services being overcharged for Airwave network

UK competition watchdog unveils proposals to restrict how much Motorola can charge emergency services to use mobile radio network Continue Reading
News 14 Oct 2022

Malicious WhatsApp add-on highlights risks of third-party mods

Kaspersky researchers discovered a malicious version of a widely used WhatsApp messenger mod, highlighting the risks of using so-called mods Continue Reading
News 14 Oct 2022

5G adoption increasing rapidly, but failing to hit heightened expectations

Leading comms tech provider finds next wave of next-gen communications well under way – but significant portion also underwhelmed by 5G services Continue Reading
News 14 Oct 2022

Protecting children by scanning encrypted messages is ‘magical thinking’, says Cambridge professor

Ross Anderson argues in a rebuttal to GCHQ experts that using artificial intelligence to scan encrypted messaging services is the wrong approach to protecting children and preventing terrorism Continue Reading
E-Zine 13 Oct 2022

CW Middle East: Qatar strengthens cyber defences ahead of FIFA World Cup

Being the first Arab country to host the World Cup is pressure enough on Qatar, but there is also a massive cyber security challenge associated with any event of this magnitude. Read about its preparations. Also in this issue, find out about the unique challenges of hiring IT professionals in Saudi Arabia. Continue Reading
News 12 Oct 2022

Qualcomm unveils next-gen MR, VR devices based on Snapdragon platform

New premium-tier extended reality platform is said to deliver 50% higher sustained power and 30% improved thermal performance to enable more immersive metaverse experiences in smaller, lighter form factors Continue Reading
News 12 Oct 2022

French Supreme Court rejects EncroChat verdict after lawyers question secrecy over hacking operation

France’s Supreme Court has sent a case back to the court of appeal after police failed to disclose technical details of EncroChat hacking operation Continue Reading
Feature 10 Oct 2022

Online marketplace momentum ushers in new era for retailers

Superdrug is the latest in a growing list of retailers to launch its own online marketplace, joining B&Q, Boots and others in driving a new era for UK retail Continue Reading
News 07 Oct 2022

Private investors back innovators to boost African connectivity

Local operator research finds nearly four out of five VC and private equity firms believe innovation in connectivity will drive expansion in Africa, despite infrastructure issues Continue Reading
News 06 Oct 2022

Proposals for scanning encrypted messages should be cut from Online Safety Bill, say researchers

Automatic scanning of messaging services for illegal content could lead to one billion false alarms each day in Europe Continue Reading
Opinion 03 Oct 2022

How to protect against SMS mobile security weakness

The simple messaging service provides two-factor authentication in banking and e-commerce, but what happens if your SIM card is stolen? Continue Reading
Feature 28 Sep 2022

How the pandemic accelerated tech adoption in hospitality

The pandemic led to technology adoption across several sectors, with hospitality being no exception Continue Reading
News 27 Sep 2022

Telefónica, Qualcomm collaborate to build XR, metaverse systems

Partnership designed to grow metaverse and extended reality ecosystem using Snapdragon Spaces as well as upskilling Telefónica’s internal teams and external innovation programmes in XR hardware and applications Continue Reading
News 23 Sep 2022

Conversation between two police officers formed basis of EncroChat warrant, court hears

The National Crime Agency did not seek a written explanation of a French hacking technique before applying for a surveillance warrant to use French “intercept” in the UK, a court heard Continue Reading
News 15 Sep 2022

Smartphone trade-in value rises as average age of devices breaks 3.5-year threshold

Analysis of mobile trade-ins reveals increasing handset longevity and rising value of used devices, with US$767m returned to US buyers in the second quarter Continue Reading
News 13 Sep 2022

Investment in UK fintech sees fall amid global turmoil

Investment in fintech drops, but because figures are distorted by last year’s records, it’s not as bad as it looks, says KPMG Continue Reading
Blog Post 09 Sep 2022

Apple iPhone 14: Time to put our desire for shiny new things into perspective

Can the launch of the iPhone 14 have come at a worse time? The standard of living of people is falling, inflation is rising rapidly, the pound is crashing and fuel bills are sky high and set to ... Continue Reading
News 08 Sep 2022

NEC, Mavenir drive mMIMO through Open RAN on Orange France 5G SA

IT and comms giant teams with cloud-native telecoms software provider to drive open and advanced radio access network functionality with deployment of massive MIMO on leading telco’s experimental 5G SA network in France Continue Reading
News 08 Sep 2022

EE upgrades 5G network across 14 new UK locations

BT-owned MNO extends mid-band next-generation network capability across 14 UK towns and cities to support the latest 5G smartphones and pay monthly mobile plans Continue Reading
News 07 Sep 2022

Qualcomm adds bite to Snapdragon platform

Just days after kicking off IFA show outlining plans to embed its Wi-Fi, 5G and satellite connectivity technology to drive connected experiences in a world that Qualcomm sees as one where everything is intelligent and everyone connected, chip giant launches new version of core mobile platform Continue Reading
News 05 Sep 2022

Huge leap to contactless payments in past three years

Covid-19 pushes the use of contactless payments for face-to-face transactions to 90% of total Continue Reading
News 02 Sep 2022

Interview: Sibstar, the fintech app for dementia sufferers

Creator of app and debit card designed to support people living with dementia tells Computer Weekly how the idea developed Continue Reading
News 02 Sep 2022

IFA 2022: Qualcomm announces Meta partnership as it stakes out connected future

Chip giant unveils plans to embed its connectivity technology – encompassing Wi-Fi 7, 5G and even satellite – within virtual and real-world environments to drive connected experiences Continue Reading
News 01 Sep 2022

Major shift detected in smart home technology deployment

Research from personalised communications services provider Plume finds consumers’ appetite for internet of things and smart home technologies continues to grow Continue Reading
News 01 Sep 2022

Arm sues Qualcomm over Nuvia tie-up

Qualcomm hopes to integrate Nuvia’s technology into its system-on-a-chip products based on Arm cores – but Arm says this infringes its IP Continue Reading
News 25 Aug 2022

Nokia, Google trial slicing service for 5G networks

Service from comms tech provider and IT giant connects smartphones to multiple network slices simultaneously Continue Reading
News 19 Aug 2022

Apple patches two zero-days in macOs, iOS

Mac users should urgently apply new patches addressing vulnerabilities in its desktop and mobile operating systems Continue Reading
News 18 Aug 2022

Amazon Ring vulnerability could have been used to spy on users

A now-patched vulnerability in the Amazon Ring mobile app could have been exploited to expose users’ video recordings, but was complex to exploit, according to the researchers who stumbled upon it Continue Reading
News 15 Aug 2022

Lawyers and journalists sue CIA and Mike Pompeo over Assange surveillance claims

CIA and its former director sued over allegations that they authorised unlawful spying on US citizens when they visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London Continue Reading
News 15 Aug 2022

UK cost-of-living crisis creates surge in mobile provider switching

Current inclement economic times in the UK blow headwinds into mobile comms sector, shaking customer loyalty with operators as over two-fifths of contract customers think they are overpaying for their current tariff Continue Reading
News 10 Aug 2022

Positioning rapidly finds its place in 5G ecosystem

Research find that while 5G positioning is developing quickly and could be featured in billions of consumer and enterprise devices by 2030, the journey to commercial success is not without hurdles Continue Reading
News 09 Aug 2022

Nokia on track with NCRTC voice/data offering and Orange Egypt network modernisation

Nokia tests mission-critical voice and data on 4.9G/LTE private wireless network for India’s regional rapid transit system, while being selected by leading Egyptian telco to upgrade network for increased reliability, security and operational efficiencies Continue Reading
News 04 Aug 2022

UK has biggest card fraud problem in Europe

Social Market Foundation calls on the UK to get a grip on its huge problem with bank card fraud in Europe Continue Reading
News 03 Aug 2022

More than 60% of world population will use digital wallets by 2026

Global take-up of digital wallets will accelerate over the next four years, driven by ‘super apps’ and QR code-based payments Continue Reading
News 01 Aug 2022

Chinese manufacturers’ woes drag back global smartphone shipments

Tough quarter for Chinese market, with economic downturn and people worried about falling disposable income and unemployment, has global ramifications for smartphone industry pinning hopes on Q2 fulfilling pent-up demand after lockdowns Continue Reading
News 29 Jul 2022

Internet of things, automotive drive quarter as Qualcomm extends and expands Samsung partnership

Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, leading mobile chip provider posts strong results with record automotive and internet of things revenues Continue Reading
News 21 Jul 2022

GCHQ experts back scanning of encrypted phone messages to fight child abuse

Ian Levy, technical director of the NCSC, and Crispin Robinson, technical director of GCHQ, back client-side scanning software on mobile phones to detect child abuse Continue Reading