Focus Group has announced the appointment of Dan Gardner as its new Head of Mobile Channel. Gardner (main pic) was previously managing director of Brighton-based Cellular Solutions, where he spent more than 17 years before it was acquired by Focus Group in 2024. He will now lead Focus Group’s Mobile & IoT channel portfolio, with

Barclay Communications and Three Mobile UK have teamed up to support charities and social enterprises across Northern Ireland by offering cost-price mobile packages and direct financial donations.

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

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:

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 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

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,

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

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 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

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 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

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 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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