News - 111 - Mobile News

Peli plans rugged assault on Europe with launch of new case range

US case-maker is targeting retail partnerships after launching “Guardian” cases for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices

Maintel acquires Azzurri in £48.5m deal

O2 Direct Partner will become part of managed services provider Maintel who announced revenues for 2015 of £50.6m

Data Select selling 2,000 VR products each month

MD Donovan describes VR as the “Christmas present for this year” as the segment continues to grow

Laptops Direct signs Compare52 deal

Retailer will offer SIM-only deals using Compare52’s widget, which offers deals from the UK’s biggest mobile operators

Lenovo appoints former Sony boss John Harber as GM

He returns to the manufacturing space after a seven year absence to drive firm’s growth in the enterprise and public sector

Gusto partners with EE to stock Juice brand

Operator selling power banks and ultra-fast charging products in all stores and online

Exertis acquires wireless networking distributor Siracom

Siracom supplies range of third party branded wireless infrastructure and security products to over 1000 partners across the UK

Samsung sees Q1 profits jump 10pc

Manufacturer also estimates revenues rose four per cent from last year in earnings guidance for the first three months of the year

Hutch offers spectrum share to Virgin & Sky to seal O2 deal

Virgin Media has signed 10pc spectrum deal, while Sky has agreed to take 20pc if European regulators approve the £10.25 billion takeover

P9 is first Huawei flagship available from all UK networks

The new flagship was unveiled in London today and goes on sale in the UK from May

EXCLUSIVE: Data Select hot on heels of major rivals says MD

Distributor’s extensive portfolio has competitors “looking over their shoulders”

Industry claims Leica-powered P9 will put Huawei on par with Samsung and Apple

The new handset has two rear cameras and is the first to feature imaging lens technology from imaging specialist Leica

Daisy partners with Virgin to offer broadband packages

Distributor will offer its channel partners Virgin Media’s range of ultrafast broadband, with speeds up to 300Mbps

Data Select secures exclusive Honor distribution deal

Distributor will target its UK online customers with the 5X and 7 smartphones from Huawei’s e-commerce brand

Exertis bags exclusive LG G5 distribution deal

Smartphone is compatible with plug-in modules to enhance camera and audio functionality

Vodafone to open 12 regional hubs for B2B

Business account management, customer services and network management teams will be placed locally to serve business customers

Majority of smartphone users unhappy and ready to switch provider

Accenture research reveals security and privacy are a major concern, while just 13 per cent plan to increase spending on mobile and IT devices

Mobile News TV: Awards special

This year’s Mobile News Awards took place at the Hilton on Park Lane on March 10. The industry’s biggest Awards ceremony, hosted by top comedian Lee Nelson, saw more than 800 industry guests enjoy the black tie gala, which was sponsored by Exertis, O2 and IPVDX. We spoke to Mobile News editor Michael Garwood to

Smartphones drive Huawei to best revenue growth in seven years

Chinese manufacturer saw revenue grow by more than 37 per cent to Rmb395bn ($61bn) for 2015

Smartphone sales set to slump to single-digit growth for first time

Gartner blames worsening economic conditions in forecast, with sales predicted to be flat in China and North America

Contracts cost 130 per cent more than necessary, says Citizens Advice

The advice group conducted over 350 shops for its research in August

Giffgaff knocks £50 off Sony Xperia Z5 Compact

MVNO claims it is one of the most competitive prices on the market

Ofcom launches mobile and broadband coverage tool

Consumers can check quality of mobile coverage, as well as broadband availability and speeds available via their postcode

EE dominates Ofcom performance test

The regulator assessed all UK networks for download and upload speeds across five English cities

Tech Data claims new Phonescheme can knock 42pc off handset pricing

The salary sacrifice scheme allows reseller employees to contribute part of their wages towards a new phone

Vodafone complaints to Ofcom more than double in year

Vodafone claims the number of complaints were due to a technical hitch when transferring customers to a new billing system

EE sets new ‘UK first’ with Recordings To Go service

The service allows users to record programmes and send them to a mobile or tablet for viewing

Boosty launches broadband solution that uses fixed & mobile connections

Suffolk-based firm claims solution uses a smartphone’s 3G or 4G connection to “boost” home broadband connections

Telefonica CEO Alierta to step down

He will hand over reins to Chief Operating Officer Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete after 16 years running Spain’s biggest mobile operator and O2 owner

FBI brings end to Apple court case after “cracking” San Bernardino iPhone

US justice department claims the FBI have hacked into gunman’s iPhone without help from US manufacturer, bringing an end to bitter privacy dispute

Vodafone UK Seals marine mammal IoT deal

Operator will provide connectivity for tags attached to seals in the Orkeney isles as part of three-year, government-backed scheme

iPhone SE UK pricing confirmed

Apple unveiled the new mid-tier device at an event in California on March 21

Samsung Galaxy Studio receives 125,000 visitors in under two weeks

Structure at Westfield London enables customers to try the manufacturer’s latest mobile products and technologies

Ofcom slams ‘unacceptable’ network switching process

The regulator has put forward new proposals to make network switching easier

Vodafone loses consumer director Rose

The network confirmed to Mobile News that Rose will be leaving after spending less than three years there

Operators set mandatory coverage targets as part of spectrum auction

Ofcom director of strategy Clive Carter outlined the strategy during a conference discussing telecom regulation

Distribution joy as indirect channel gets Galaxy S7 stock at launch

Exertis, Onecom and Next Communications were amongst the companies who confirmed stock Samsung’s flagship

Welcomm to launch new utilities business

Chairman Chris Stanton claims the service can help customers save thousands of pounds on utility bills

Azzurri Communications no longer in “financial distress”

EBITDA up 18 per cent to £5.9 million as CEO hails improving margins

O2 close to securing 47,000 connection MOD deal from Vodafone

Contract, in partnership with BT, is said to be one of the single biggest of its kind in the public sector

BT Group appoints Simon Lowth as Financial Director

Lowth joins from oil and gas explorer BG Group and replaces Tony Chanmugam, who will oversee the integration of EE BT has appointed Simon Lowth as its new group finance director and executive board director. He will take the finance director role from July 4. Lowth will replace current finance director Tony Chanmugam. His responsibilities

Apple in the loop with rumoured device launches

Manufacturer has invited press to an event on March 21 where it is expected to unveil a new iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch

Hutch may sell stake in Three to clinch O2 deal

In a statement accompanying its latest financial results, CK Hutchison said it could sell part of Three UK to a new investor and keep operators separate

Exertis appoints former Dixons man Cushway as Microsoft GM

Matt Cushway will be responsible for Exertis’ Microsoft business

Networks and retailers offering free bundles worth £200 with LG G5 preorders

All preorders from EE comes with a B&O PLAY S3 speaker and H3 headphones.

TalkTalk introduces voice biometric technology for passwords

Quad-play provider claims to be first telecoms firm to allow customers to use their voices for passwords when contacting call centres

HTC Vive to be sold in Dixons Carphone stores

Overclockers UK and Scan Computers International also named as partners for new VR headset, which goes on display in store today (March 17)

Three records six per cent increase in annual revenue

The network released its latest financial results today (March 17)