VK is widely known in Russia and gained international attention when reports said the network offered a job to US whistleblower Edward Snowden. Outside the country, however, many people may not be familiar with the platform. A major problem for VK has been the high level of copyright infringement on the network. Industry estimates suggest … Read more

MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis is calling for regulation of mobile roaming charges as households face soaring living costs. UK RPI inflation has climbed to 11.7 percent, the highest among G7 nations, and is expected to rise further later this year. As more families struggle to balance budgets, many feel the UK Government has not done … Read more

Aging public infrastructure is both a growing financial burden and a serious safety risk. Road collapses caused by deteriorating underground structures are a recurring danger, yet agencies responsible for maintenance often lack the budgets and personnel required to survey the extensive networks of assets thoroughly. Traditional inspection techniques are slow, costly, and geographically limited. On-site … Read more

Telefonica’s mobile operator O2 has announced the start of a UK trial for a new branded mobile VoIP application that lets users make calls and send texts over WiFi. The app will allow users to make and receive calls using their existing mobile number to any UK mobile or landline. Calls can be initiated from … Read more

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/gerenme) Spanish telecommunications giant Telefónica appears to be refocusing its efforts on its home market, even as reports suggest it may seek an exit from the UK. According to statements by Telefónica Spain president Luis Miguel Gilpérez, the company plans to boost its top broadband tier from the current 100 Mbps to 300 … Read more

In 2012, the UK telecoms regulator Ofcom made a contentious decision to allow the country’s largest operator, Everything Everywhere (EE), to roll out 4G services a year earlier than its rivals. EE achieved this advantage by using its existing 1,800 MHz spectrum. Competing mobile networks criticised the move as anti-competitive, arguing it granted EE a … Read more

Google has stopped waiting for reluctant carriers to adopt RCS (Rich Communication Services) and has begun rolling it out directly to Android smartphones. RCS aims to deliver an iMessage-like experience across compatible devices and platforms, offering features such as typing indicators, removal of old SMS character limits, improved group messaging, richer media sharing, and location … Read more

Canalys forecasts that roughly 800 million 5G-capable handsets will be shipped in 2023, representing about 51.4% of global smartphone shipments that year. The market research firm reports a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 179.9% for 5G handset shipments between 2019 and 2023, with nearly 1.9 billion devices expected to reach the market over the … Read more

As cloud computing shifts from buzzword to everyday reality for forward-thinking organizations, here are five trends expected to shape the landscape in 2012. Research firm Gartner reports that global cloud adoption is growing at roughly 17 percent annually. Industry surveys indicate that half or more of organizations have already adopted some form of cloud computing. … Read more

Over the past decade the telecommunications landscape has transformed dramatically. The rise of over-the-top (OTT) services has eroded carriers’ traditional voice and messaging revenues. Industry estimates have suggested substantial losses due to the rapid adoption of OTT messaging and VoIP services, prompting operators to rethink their business models. Competitive mobile operators introduced unlimited data plans, … Read more