Find out the week’s top mobile stories from around the world.
This week.. Coronavirus lock-down boosts mobile gaming and app stores, one billion Android devices may be at risk of hacking, Google Search to make mobile-first indexing default and much more.
One billion Android devices at risk of hacking
BBC
More than a billion Android devices are at risk of being hacked because they are no longer protected by security updates, watchdog Which? has suggested.
The vulnerability could leave users around the world exposed to the danger of data theft, ransom demands and other malware attacks. Anyone using an Android phone released in 2012 or earlier should be especially concerned, it said.
Which? says it was not reassured by Google’s response.
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Google Search will make mobile-first indexing the default by September
Tech Crunch
For a while now, Google has been working on making mobile-first indexing the default behavior of its search engine. With mobile-first indexing, Google Search primarily uses a page’s mobile content for creating its search index and ranking. Google announced this initiative in 2016 and as it announced today, by September 2020, it’ll become the default behavior for all sites.
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GSMA: 5G to generate trillions dollars for mobile industry
Mobile News
One in five mobile connections will be 5G by 2025, according to the GSMA as operators are predicted to invest heavily in the next few years.
But despite this, the GSMA reveals that 4G is still the dominant technology as the mobile industry body released its flagship ‘Mobile Economy’ report. Last year 52 per cent of all global connections were 4G, despite the emergence of 5G last year. By 2025, the number of 4G connections is expected to grow even higher to 56 per cent.
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Apple is rejecting coronavirus apps to limit virus misinformation
Engadget
Apple and Google are taking measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus misinformation from apps, according to a report from CNBC. Apple, for one, is rejecting all coronavirus-related mobile apps that aren’t from the government or official health organizations, developers told the news organization. Google Play, meanwhile, is blocking all searches for coronavirus, though it’s not clear if it’s completely blocking app approvals, as well.
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FCC proposes millions in fines for top US wireless carriers over privacy violations
CNN
The Federal Communications Commission wants America’s biggest wireless carriers to pay tens of millions of dollars to resolve accusations the companies failed to protect the privacy of US cellphone users. The proposed fines for AT&T (T), Sprint (S), T-Mobile (TMUS) and Verizon (VZ) follow years of reports that the companies improperly shared customers’ real-time geolocation information to third parties, including prison officials. (AT&T owns WarnerMedia, CNN’s parent company.)
During a press conference Friday, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said the total potential penalties would add up to more than $200 million.
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M-Pesa wants to be more than just a mobile money service
Business Tech
Vodacom and Safaricom’s M-Pesa mobile money platform has ambitions to do more than just mobile money services – but don’t call it a digital bank.
Speaking at the BusinessTech Digital Banking Conference on Thursday (5 March) managing executive for M-Pesa at Vodacom, Chris Williamson said that the mobile platform’s ambitions lie beyond mobile money, with the group rolling out things like enterprise services, group lending and other financial services.
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India’s Yes Bank breakdown disrupts Walmart’s PhonePe among a dozen other services
Tech Crunch
Tens of millions of merchants and users in India are struggling to make online transactions and use some of their popular services after the nation’s central bank seized control of Yes Bank, the fourth largest lender in the country.
The emergency takeover of the private sector bank has disrupted several financial startups that rely on it for facilitating services such as processing QR codes, and their point-of-sale terminals as well as transactions of UPI-based payments.
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South Korea bank rolls out blockchain-based mobile identification system
Coin Geek
South Korea’s Nonghyup Bank has announced the launch of a blockchain-based mobile identification system for commercial usage, backed by tech giants Samsung Electronics and LG Uplus.
The system is the first commercial application of the distributed identity technology developed by the “Initial DID Association,” according to local news agency JoongAng Ilbo.
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Coronavirus Lockdown Boosts Mobile Gaming and App Stores
Nasdaq
Months have passed by since the outbreak of coronavirus was first reported. As the disease continues to spread rapidly, more areas are being put under lockdown. This is however a boon for mobile gaming and app stores as people stay home and spend more time on their smartphones.
China, the epicenter of coronavirus has so far confirmed more than 80,000 cases. And with the majority still confined to their homes, smartphones are playing a major role. Per a report from app analytics firm Sensor Tower, game downloads worldwide increased 39% last month.
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