New Delhi — India’s government revoked an order on Wednesday that had directed smartphone makers such as Apple and Samsung to install a state-developed and owned security app on all new devices. The move came after two days of criticism from opposition politicians and privacy organizations that the “Sanchar Saathi” app was an effort to snoop…
An acute global shortage of memory chips is forcing AI and consumer electronics companies to fight for dwindling supplies, as prices soar for the unglamorous but essential components. Japanese electronics stores have begun limiting how many hard disk drives shoppers can buy. Chinese smartphone makers are warning of price increases. Tech giants including Microsoft, Google…
Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters Samsung Electronics has unveiled its first multi-folding smartphone, in a bid to strengthen its position in a sector of the phone market where competition is expected to intensify. The launch of the Galaxy Z TriFold marks Samsung’s bid to reinforce its footing in a segment where Chinese rivals have been gaining ground, even…
Angela Wamola, head of GSMA Africa. While opportunity for smartphone manufacturing in Africa does exit, the continent’s fragmented markets pose a challenge to these aspirations. This is according to Angela Wamola, head of GSM Association (GSMA) Africa, who recently spoke to ITWeb on the sidelines of the GSMA Digital Africa Summit in Cape Town. The…
Fred Zhou, CEO of Honor South Africa. (Photograph by Lesley Moyo) Honor wants to move from being a handset maker to becoming a leading AI-enabled device business. According to Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa, the start of this journey is all about delivering intelligent AI handsets. “For so many, these mobile devices are…
Fred Zhou, CEO of Honor South Africa. (Photograph by Lesley Moyo) Chinese smartphone maker Honor has introduced the Honor X7d 5G to the South African market. The device runs on the MagicOS 9.0 operating system based on Android 15, and supports Google Gemini Assistant, Circle to Search and Magic Portal. The X7d 5G features a 6…
Global mobile telecommunications industry body the GSMA has partnered with six of Africa’s largest mobile operators – Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, Orange, and South Africa’s Vodacom and MTN – to develop a set of minimum requirements for an affordable, entry-level smartphone. The announcement was made at a Mobile World Congress event in Kigali, Rwanda…
The longer you wait to give your child a smartphone or allow them to join social media, the happier and more successful they’re likely to be as adults, says psychologist Jean Twenge. To help parents facilitate that technological delay, Twenge recommends starting to teach kids how to use those technologies in safe and healthy ways…
HMD Global has launched the HMD Touch 4G in India, a new device that attempts to bridge the gap between simple feature phones and full-featured smartphones. Priced aggressively at just ₹4,999 (about R970), the Touch 4G offers a touchscreen and video calling capabilities in a compact, affordable package. Read: Starlink pledges R2.5 billion investment in…
Vivo South Africa GM Tony Shi Chinese car brands such as Haval, Chery, BYD, Omoda and Jaecoo are making massive inroads in South Africa’s new vehicle market, challenging traditional incumbents as they wrestle for market share. A similar shift may now be happening in the mobile market, where Chinese challenger brands are giving mainstays such…
