We take a weekly look at mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… Apple and Google Face Scrutiny in U.K. Over App Store and Browser Practices, U.K. Government Unveils Mobile Wallet for Official Documents, Three Network Outage Disrupts Calls for Thousands and more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.
Apple and Google Face Scrutiny in U.K. Over App Store and Browser Practices
Guardian
The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Apple and Google’s dominance in mobile ecosystems, including operating systems, app stores, and web browsers, under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.
The CMA aims to determine if these companies hold “strategic market status,” which could lead to regulations restricting their practices, such as favoring their own products or hindering smaller competitors.
The investigations could result in requirements to open their platforms to third-party developers or allow users to download apps outside their app stores.
Feedback is sought until Feb. 12, with a deadline of Oct. 22 for the probe.
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U.K. Government Unveils Mobile Wallet for Official Documents, Full Rollout by 2027
Gov.uk
The UK government is launching a mobile wallet to store official documents like driving licenses, aiming for full rollout by 2027 to include all government-issued credentials.
The wallet will use secure technologies like facial recognition.
A new app will also debut, offering personalized access to government services, payments, and an AI chatbot.
Additionally, the government introduced AI tools, dubbed Humphrey, to improve public services by reducing delays and cutting costs.
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Three Network Outage Disrupts Calls for Thousands, Affects Smaller Providers
Guardian
Thousands of UK customers experienced phone call disruptions due to outages on the Three network, with over 10,000 reports logged on Downdetector.
Smaller providers like Smarty and iD Mobile, which use Three’s network, were also impacted.
Three confirmed its engineers had identified the issue but did not provide a resolution timeline.
Some customers reported missing important calls, including medical appointments.
Ofcom stated refunds might be possible, though this remains uncertain.
Three emphasized that data services and 999 calls were unaffected.
The outage follows Three’s recent £16.5bn merger with Vodafone, approved by the Competition and Markets Authority.
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MEF Leads Telecom Discussions at Pacific Conference, Supporting Hawaii’s Infrastructure Growth
Hawaii News Now
The Pacific Telecommunications Council conference in Waikiki on global technology and innovation, attracted about 9,000 attendees, boosting Hawaii’s economy.
The event supported Hawaii’s fiber optics goals and broadband expansion to remote areas, championed by Gov. Sylvia Luke.
It also raised over $15,000 for Make-a-Wish Hawaii through its annual 5K Run/Walk.
MEF hosted an entire day, covering Wireless Tech’s Impact on Infrastructure, the Future of Telecom Wholesale, Securing Mobile Network, Mobile Evolution & Connectivity.
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They Don’t Have the Money’: Musk Doubts Trump’s $100B Stargate AI Venture
Wall Street Journal
Elon Musk is questioning President Trump’s first major tech investment announcement, casting doubt on its viability.
On Tuesday, Trump revealed a joint venture between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle aimed at creating $100 billion in AI infrastructure, some of which is already in progress.
However, Musk took to X with two late-night posts, claiming the venture, named Stargate, lacks the necessary funding. “They don’t have the money,” Musk wrote, adding that SoftBank has less than $10 billion secured, citing reliable sources.
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China Signals Openness to Trump’s TikTok Deal Amid Musk’s Continued Support
Wall Street Journal
China indicated its willingness to collaborate with Donald Trump to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. by suggesting that companies could decide on their own operations and acquisitions, according to the Wall Street Journal: a shift from its previous stance of blocking any forced sale.
This came after Trump proposed a 50-50 split of TikTok’s control between U.S. and Chinese interests.
TikTok’s founder, Zhang Yiming, who holds a 21% stake in TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, may have a potential ally in Elon Musk.
Musk had discussions with Zhang last year regarding the potential TikTok ban in the U.S.
Musk has been vocal against banning TikTok and maintains positive ties with Chinese officials, with Tesla having a strong presence in China.
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CapCut Back in Action: ByteDance Navigates U.S. Ban and Meta’s Rising Competition
NYTimes
CapCut, ByteDance’s video-editing app, returned online in the U.S. after briefly going dark due to a federal ban on ByteDance apps.
The ban, which also affected TikTok and Lemon8, required app store operators like Apple and Google to stop distributing these apps.
TikTok resumed service after President Trump issued an order delaying enforcement of the law by 75 days, but the apps remain unavailable for download.
CapCut’s return is notable amid competition from Meta’s new rival app, Edits, and mixed responses from tech companies on ByteDance’s legal challenges.
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Meta Targets ByteDance: Instagram Launches ‘Edits’ Amid TikTok Turmoil
Just before the Trump’s announcement on Tik Tok continuing operating, Instagram launched a new video-editing app called Edits.
The app appears to be a direct copy of ByteDance’s CapCut.
Instagram, owned by Meta, is seizing the opportunity as TikTok faces scrutiny in the U.S. over national security concerns.
Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s head, emphasized that their goal is to provide compelling creative tools for video creators. TikTok, with 170 million U.S. users, faces potential disruptions in its services due to the ongoing legal challenges.
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Content Moderation Under Fire: Meta’s Abortion Pill Restrictions Spark Debate
NYT
Instagram and Facebook recently removed or blurred posts from two abortion pill providers, suspending their accounts and limiting their visibility in searches and recommendations, according to the New York Times.
These actions, particularly noticeable in the past two weeks, were confirmed to the Times by Meta, which owns both platforms.
While Meta restored some accounts and posts after inquiries, it attributed the actions to rules against selling pharmaceuticals without certification and described some incidents as “over-enforcement.”
Meta’s recent changes to its speech policies, intended to loosen restrictions on online speech, have raised concerns about content moderation, especially regarding reproductive health content.
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OpenAI Agent to Handle Tasks Like Shopping and Reservations
WSJ
OpenAI launched its “Operator” agent for select ChatGPT Pro users in the U.S., allowing AI to automate tasks like grocery shopping and filing expense reports.
Operator can browse the internet, click, scroll, and type like a human, with potential uses such as making reservations and transferring data.
Available in a “research preview,” the tool is intended for active users who understand its limitations. OpenAI is also collaborating with companies like Instacart and Uber to enhance Operator’s functionality.
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