The Light Phone take away almost every function of a smart phone, except one, making phone calls. Continue reading… “Credit card sized phone that only does phone calls”
Cignifi raises funding to provide credit scores for people in emerging markets
Cignifi relies solely on mobile phone behavioral data.
Financial institutions, in the developed world, use credit history in order to assess a person’s creditworthiness and subsequently issue them financial products at personalized terms.. Unfortunately, that’s difficult to do in emerging markets, where mobile phones are more prevalent than traditional credit history.
Continue reading… “Cignifi raises funding to provide credit scores for people in emerging markets”
A rescue drone that finds survivors by tracking their mobile phone signals
The drone can pick out the location of an individual phone within 30 feet.
A mobile phone can be the device that saves you in an emergency, even if you aren’t able to make a call. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne have developed a drone that can pinpoint the location of a mobile phone by picking up its Wi-Fi signal. (Video)
Continue reading… “A rescue drone that finds survivors by tracking their mobile phone signals”
Mobile phone carriers profit from phone theft ‘are not innocent,’ says DC police chief
Carriers benefit from phone theft.
Theft of mobile phones is a massive and growing problem, accounting for more than 40 percent of all thefts in San Francisco in 2012. But is that a good thing for mobile carriers like AT&T and Verizon?
By 2016 proximity mobile payments will explode in the U.S.
Using a mobile phone as a payment device.
In the U.S. proximity mobile payments are not yet very popular. It is estimated that such point-of-sale payments using a mobile phone as a payment device, whether via near-field communications or other contactless technology, will total just $640 million this year. But that’s an increase of 283% over last year’s even smaller base, and a number that will rise a further 234% by the end of next year.
Continue reading… “By 2016 proximity mobile payments will explode in the U.S.”
Mobile phones will soon exceed the human population
A World Bank report details the astounding growth of mobile since the year 2000. Just 12 years ago there were less than a billion mobile subscriptions worldwide. Today, there are more than 6 billion and the count will “will soon exceed that of the human population,” according to the Bank (it is common in many countries for one person to own multiple SIM cards). Three-quarters of the world population now has access to a mobile phone.
Continue reading… “Mobile phones will soon exceed the human population”
National database planned to track stolen mobile phones
The cellphone theft problem is threatening to get out of control.
There is an unwelcome, but predictable, side effect to the soaring popularity of smartphones: an epidemic of smartphone thefts.
Continue reading… “National database planned to track stolen mobile phones”
Fifty percent of mobile phone owners in the U.S. have smartphones
According to a new Nielsen report, there is a big shift happening right before our eyes: Smartphones now account for 50% of all mobile phones in the United States.
Continue reading… “Fifty percent of mobile phone owners in the U.S. have smartphones”
PowerTrekk uses water to charge mobile phones
PowerTrekk
A Swedish company, myFC, has figured out how to power smartphones using a system that includes some water, a tray, a little round container, and an eyeglass case styled cover. The company is introducing its PowerTrekk system to Americans at the CES show in Vegas. PowerTrekk describes its charger as a pocket size, lightweight gizmo for users “who spend time away from the electricity grid.” Translation: If you are hiking over the weekend with no Starbucks or friend’s flat in sight, your phone can still get charged. (Videos and pics)
Continue reading… “PowerTrekk uses water to charge mobile phones”
When predictive text errors end relationships
Modern mobile phones come with a built-in dictionary which enables them to predict what word a user wants from only a few key presses.
Predictive text is a modern marvel of the mobile phone industry. Predictive text has, no doubt, made it quicker and easier to communicate with those around us. However, the very tool designed to help bring us closer together appears to be driving a wedge between some mobile phone users and their nearest and dearest.
Continue reading… “When predictive text errors end relationships”
Your mobile phone company is selling your personal information to the highest bidder
Your phone company knows everything about you. They know where you live, what websites you visit, what apps you download, what videos you like to watch, and even where you are. Now, some have begun selling that valuable information to the highest bidder.
Mobile phone carriers keep personal data for up to seven years
The document says AT&T keeps for five to seven years a record of who text messages whom.
The ACLU has obtained a document that shows for the first time how the four largest cellphone companies in the U.S. treat data about their subscribers’ calls, text messages, Web surfing and approximate locations.
Continue reading… “Mobile phone carriers keep personal data for up to seven years”
