Apple will allow developers access to its NFC technology, avoiding an EU fine

Engadget

After four years of negotiations, the European Union and Apple have reached an agreement regarding Apple’s tap-and-go technology. The European Commission announced that Apple has made “legally binding” commitments to allow developers access to their Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, which is crucial for tap-and-go functionality, as well as iOS features like Face ID authentication and the double-click launch. This agreement spares Apple from an antitrust fine that could have been as high as 10 percent of its global annual revenue, approximately $40 billion.

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Europol wants to drop privacy protections for mobile roaming

Telecoms .com

Europol has proposed solutions to address a perceived loophole in mobile roaming security related to Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PET). These solutions involve either removing PET by default for all users or allowing it to be removed on an individual basis.

Mobile roaming, also known as home routing, allows telecom operators to provide network services to users while they are abroad by routing communications through the user’s home network rather than the local network in the destination country. This setup prevents operators from sharing communication data with law enforcement in the destination country, even when there is a judicial request, if the domestic service has PET enabled. Europol argues that this loophole can be exploited by criminals, hence their proposal to disable PET to enhance law enforcement capabilities.

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Omnichannel Expectations Skyrocket: What Consumers Want from Store Associates

New Store

Each year, NewStore surveys over 1,000 consumers to gauge their expectations of modern store associates. The latest survey reveals that consumer expectations for frontline retail workers have significantly increased. In 2024, expectations rose in 22 out of 24 omnichannel categories, compared to 18 out of 24 in 2023. Furthermore, the overall expectations for each capability increased by an average of 5%. This indicates a growing demand for more skilled and knowledgeable store associates who can provide enhanced shopping experiences.

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IoT enterprise spending growth tipped for blip

Mobile World Live

IoT Analytics predicts a slowdown in enterprise IoT sales growth for 2024, continuing from 2023 as economic uncertainty leads companies to reduce spending. Enterprise IoT spending grew 15% to $269 billion in 2023, down from an 18% increase in 2022. Sales are forecasted to grow 12% to $301 billion in 2024, with an upward trend expected to begin in 2025, showing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% until 2030.

The company notes that related services and hardware are “currently the hardest hit” by the overall reduction in corporate spending. Despite this, IoT Analytics predicts spending in China will grow 17% this year, with India and the US following at 14% and 13% respectively. These countries are expected to remain top spenders over the next three to five years.

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Google Experts Warn That AI May Distort Reality, While AI Overviews Repel Mobile Users

Cnet

A new research report warns that the widespread production of low-quality, spam-like, and harmful synthetic content by generative AI may erode trust in digital information. This AI-generated “slop” could lead to fatigue as people would need to constantly fact-check online content, a necessary task to avoid misinformation. The report, titled “Generative AI Misuse: A Taxonomy of Tactics and Insights From Real-World Data,” by six researchers, highlights how this contamination of public data could hinder information retrieval and distort the collective understanding of socio-political realities and scientific consensus. The researchers also point out the phenomenon of the “liar’s dividend,” where high-profile individuals dismiss unfavorable evidence as AI-generated, thereby complicating the verification process and shifting the burden of proof.

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RCS gets major update, bridges Android-iPhone messaging gap

Android Headlines

The GSMA, which oversees the global mobile communication standards, has announced a significant update to the Rich Communication Services (RCS) with the release of Universal Profile 2.7. This update is aimed at enhancing the interoperability and user experience of next-generation mobile messaging, particularly between Android and iPhone users.

Universal Profile 2.7 introduces “Extended Messaging” features, which are designed to offer a more engaging and interactive messaging experience. This includes improvements such as proper handling of message replies and emoji reactions, similar to what users experience with popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

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Data: Mobile games dominate with 71% of IP integrations

Mobile Marketing Magazine

According to Layer Licensing’s research, mobile games dominate in licensing collaborations, accounting for 71% of IP integrations, slightly ahead of PC games at 70%. RPGs are the most popular genre for these collaborations, comprising 20% of the partnerships, followed by shooters at 16% and simulations at 10%. In terms of the types of IP featured in video games, film and TV properties lead at 22%, closely followed by anime and comics at 21%. Collaborations involving video game IPs themselves rank third at 17%.

Layer Founder and CEO Rachit Moti highlighted that mobile game studios are increasingly turning to licensing external IPs for their live events. This strategy helps them reach new audiences, enhance their game’s appeal, and create additional revenue streams through the sale of cosmetic items based on the partnered IP. This approach is becoming more crucial as privacy regulations, such as Apple’s App Tracking Transparency framework, limit user tracking capabilities necessary for user acquisition campaigns in mobile games.

Universal Profile 2.7 introduces “Extended Messaging” features, which are designed to offer a more engaging and interactive messaging experience. This includes improvements such as proper handling of message replies and emoji reactions, similar to what users experience with popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

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How pop-ups may kill mobile advertising

The Media Online

Many people spend significant time on their phones for activities like reading the news, checking social media, or finding recipes. However, the experience is often disrupted by numerous pop-up ads and in-page advertisements. Despite the convenience of using a phone for these tasks, the overwhelming volume of ads can make it frustrating and cumbersome.

The mobile web has yet to solve the ad overload problem that online advertising on desktops addressed years ago. Users frequently encounter up to six pop-ups or overlays and as many as 15 in-page ads when visiting a typical content page, like a recipe or a news article on Apple News. This bombardment of ads not only hampers the user experience but also leads to “ad blindness,” where users start ignoring all ads, rendering the ad impressions ineffective.

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