Mammoth investment over three years to bolster advanced chip making, in order to keep up with rising demand, amid the global silicon shortage
News Smartphones
Apple Fined $2 Million For Selling iPhone 12 With No Charger
Fined for breaking consumer law as Brazilian agency rejects Apple green claim for not including charger, as well as 'misleading' water resist claims
BT Staff To Receive £1,500 Pandemic Bonus
Nearly 60,000 frontline BT staff who kept the UK's vital communication channels working during the Coronavirus pandemic, are to receive a bonus
Samsung Again Warns About Chip Shortage
Global silicon shortage not just impacting the car industry, as Samsung warns it may delay launch of the new Galaxy Note device
Huawei To Receive $2.5 For Each Smartphone Using Its 5G Tech
Chinese networking firm Huawei for the first time ever announces its royalty rates for manufacturers using its 5G technology
British Airways To Add Covid-19 ‘Passport’ To Travel App
British Airways trials in-house system for verifying passenger vaccine certificates and Covid-19 tests, with plans to add the features to its mobile app
Netflix Tests Crackdown On Password Sharing
Tightening up of account sharing as Netflix confirms test of account passwords, to ensure people are authorised to use account
Apple Chooses Munich For Chip Design Centre
Apple to open 30,000-square-meter chip design lab in central Munich and hire hundreds of staff, as part of 1 billion euro investment
Apple Cuts iPhone Orders By 20 Percent – Report
Production of the iPhone 12 is being lowered by 20 percen in the first half of 2021, with production of the iPhone 12 mini being dramatically reduced
Right To Repair Law To Tackle E-Waste Problem
End to throw-away society? The UK to introduce 'right to repair' laws in the summer to tackle long standing e-waste issue
Oppo Shows ‘Expanding Phone’ Prototype
Oppo provides hands-on demonstrations of Oppo X 2021 smartphone prototype with flexible OLED display that rolls and unrolls inside device
WhatsApp Adds Voice And Video Calling To Desktop App
Bigger screen time. Facebook's WhatsApp messaging service has finally added voice and video calling capabilities to its desktop version
CMA Launches Probe Of Apple’s App Store Policies
Competition and Markets Authority launches investigation of Apple for suspected anti-competitive behaviour with app developers
GlobalFoundries $1.4bn Investment To Address Silicon Shortage
US chipmaker pledges $1.4bn to ramp up production at its US, Germany and Singapore factories to tackle global chip shortages
US To Squeeze Chip Choke Points To Thwart China Ambitions
US national security commission recommends tightening up 'choke points' on chip manufacturing, to safeguard American interests
Consumer Group Which? Targets Qualcomm In Legal Action
Legal action against Qualcomm could result in 29 million UK 4G smartphone owners being entitled to possible £30 compensation
EE To Expand 4G Coverage As Part Of Shared Rural Network
Mobile operator EE is to add 4G connectivity to 579 rural areas this year, as part of the Shared Rural Network initiative
President Biden Targets Silicon Shortage With Executive Order
Chip shortage targetted by US executive order that will review supply chains for four critical products experiencing shortages
Epic Games Refused Permission To Sue Apple In London
Fornite maker Epic Games refused permission to sue Apple in London over App Store commission charges, but Google can be sued in the UK, ruling states
Ericsson Claims Samsung Infringed 4G, 5G Patents
Round two. Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson claims Samsung has infringed some of its 4G and 5G patents – US ITC says it will investigate
Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm Object To Nvidia Acquisition Of ARM
Growing opposition by big name players in the tech industry to Nvidia's proposed acquisition of ARM, which is also facing multiple investigations
Volkswagen Blames Chip Makers For Silicon Shortage
German car maker VW blames poor planning by chip makers as the principle reason for most car brands having to reduce factory production
Dating App Bumble Sees Shares Soar On Debut
Dating app company Bumble sees market cap rise to more than $8bn after Nasdaq listing, as investors rush to scoop initial offerings and tech shares
Ofcom Hits O2 With £10.5 Million Fine For Overcharging
Put on the naughty step. Mobile operator O2 fined £10.5m by UK regulator for overcharging 140,000 customers between 2011 and 2019
Microsoft’s Surface Duo Set For European Launch Next Week
Coming next week to this side of the pond, Microsoft's Surface Duo will still cost an eye watering £1,349 for the dual screen device
Biden To Consider Targeted Restrictions For China Over Tech
Biden administration to consider targeted restrictions of sensitive technology exports to China, and will not lift restrictions
Apple Partners TSMC For AR Display Screens – Report
Long rumoured augmented reality push by Apple, reportedly sees it partner TSMC to develop ultra-advanced display technology
Ten Hackers Arrested For $100m Cryptocurrency Theft
Criminal gang used 'sim swapping' technique to hijack phone numbers of famous online influencers, sport stars, and musicians
BT Contributes £24 Billion To UK Plc – Report
The scale of contribution of the former UK telecom incumbent BT to the British economy has been revealed in an independent report