We take a weekly look at mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… TikTok returns to Apple and Google app stores in the US, Apple teams up with Alibaba, Baidu for AI launch in China, T-Mobile and Starlink test space-based mobile network to eliminate dead zones and more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.
TikTok returns to Apple and Google app stores in the US
BBC
TikTok has returned to Apple and Google’s US app stores after former President Donald Trump postponed enforcement of a ban until April 5. The app, which boasts over 170 million American users, was briefly unavailable last month as the initial deadline loomed.
Trump’s executive order granted TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law requiring its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US operations or face a ban. The bipartisan law, originally signed by former President Joe Biden, aimed to address concerns that TikTok could be used for Chinese espionage or political manipulation.
According to Bloomberg, Apple and Google reinstated TikTok after receiving assurances from the Trump administration that they would not be penalized for allowing downloads, and that the ban would not yet be enforced. TikTok has not yet commented on the development.
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Apple teams up with Alibaba, Baidu for AI launch in China
Tech In Asia
Apple is set to launch its AI features in China by mid-2025, tailoring its Apple Intelligence platform to comply with local regulations. To achieve this, the tech giant is partnering with Alibaba and Baidu, two of China’s leading technology firms.
Alibaba is developing a censorship system to align with government policies, while Baidu will contribute its Visual Intelligence technology, enabling users to scan objects for information. These AI-powered features will be exclusive to Apple devices in China, marking a strategic adaptation of Apple’s global AI ambitions for the Chinese market.
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T-Mobile and Starlink test space-based mobile network to eliminate dead zones
Mobile News
T-Mobile and Starlink have launched a free public beta of a groundbreaking service that allows nearly any smartphone to connect with Starlink satellites, enabling calls and texts from virtually anywhere in the U.S. This launch follows Vodafone’s recent satellite video call demonstration using AST SpaceMobile’s satellite network, which caused AST SpaceMobile’s stock to surge by 17.47%.
The T-Mobile-Starlink service extends connectivity to 500,000 square miles of previously unreachable areas, using satellites equipped with Direct-to-Cell technology. These satellites, orbiting over 200 miles above Earth at speeds exceeding 17,000 mph, currently support text messaging, with plans to introduce picture messaging, data, and voice calls soon.
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UK: Encryption order threatens global privacy rights
Amnesty.org
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned a UK government order requiring Apple to grant security authorities access to encrypted cloud data, arguing it severely undermines user privacy in the UK and worldwide.
Issued secretly by the Home Office in January 2025, the order attempts to force Apple to provide access to encrypted user data, including device backups that store contact lists, location history, and messaging records. This directive directly targets Apple’s Advanced Data Protection feature, which ensures that only the account owner can access their encrypted cloud-stored data. The revelation, first reported by The Washington Post, has raised significant concerns about government overreach and digital privacy rights.
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Cellular IoT’s annus horribilis could get worse – some vendors down 50%
RCR Wireless
The cellular IoT sector faced a challenging 2024, marked by consolidation, divestitures, and stagnant sales growth. However, the outlook may be even bleaker than initially expected. ABI Research has warned that worsening market conditions could further impact the industry, particularly in light of continued struggles among IoT module makers and their partners.
Jamie Moss, Research Director for IoT hardware at ABI Research, highlighted a pressing issue: the industry is still grappling with the consequences of overbuying by device OEMs in 2021 and 2022. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and a global chipset shortage, manufacturers stockpiled components to safeguard supply chains. While this strategy prevented production disruptions at the time, it has now led to an excess inventory problem, exacerbating the sector’s slowdown.
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Paris AI Summit: Global Divides Deepen as Macron Unveils €109B Investment
Guardian
The Paris AI summit showcased deep global divides. French president Emmanuel Macron opened with deepfakes of himself, but the real drama came later: the U.S. blasted EU regulations, the U.K. refused to sign an AI pact, and China’s AI rise loomed large.
U.S. VP JD Vance made it clear—America won’t let rules slow AI growth, taking shots at both Europe and China. Macron pitched France as an AI hub with a “plug, baby, plug” jab at fossil fuels. He announced €109 billion in private investments. Experts predicted artificial general intelligence in five years. China offered AI cooperation, while its startup DeepSeek rattled U.S. investors. But Elon Musk’s surprise bid for OpenAI stirred the most buzz, with Sam Altman cheekily responding, “We are happy to buy Twitter.” Bottom line: The AI race is moving fast, and no one agrees on how to control it.
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$111.7B Video Game Boom: 5G, AI, and Mobile Gaming Are Shaping the Future
That Eric Alper
The global video game market is projected to grow by USD 111.7 billion from 2025 to 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6%, according to Technavio. This growth is driven by increasing smartphone penetration and improved internet access, alongside a rising number of female gamers. However, the rising cost of game development remains a significant challenge.
The video game market is evolving with significant trends, particularly in 3D gaming and graphics. The rollout of 5G networks is enhancing download speeds and real-time gaming experiences, while adaptability and aesthetics are driving consumer engagement. Innovations in artificial intelligence and game architecture are improving interactivity, and immersive audio effects, music, and narration contribute to player enjoyment.
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AI in Your Pocket: How Mobile Devices Are Leveraging Artificial Intelligence
Silicon
AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s already shaping the way we interact with our smartphones. From voice assistants that predict our needs to on-device AI enhancing security and performance, artificial intelligence is transforming mobile technology in unprecedented ways.
Just as the first smartphones revolutionized connectivity, AI is now making these devices more intuitive, acting as intelligent companions that adapt, assist, and anticipate our actions. This shift raises exciting questions about the future of human-device interaction, pushing the boundaries of what mobile technology can achieve.
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Arm to Launch First In-House Chip, Disrupting $700B Industry – Financial Times
FT
The British semiconductor and software company Arm plans to launch its first in-house chip this year, marking a shift in its business model from licensing designs to manufacturing its own processors, the Financial Times reports citing people familiar with the matter.
The chip will primarily target server central processing units (CPUs) for large data centers and is expected to be customized for customers like Meta.
The move could disrupt the $700bn semiconductor industry, putting Arm — owned by Softbank — in competition with major customers like Nvidia and Qualcomm.
SoftBank’s founder, Masayoshi Son, sees the Cambridge, UK based subsidiary as key to his broader AI infrastructure plans.
Arm’s design is already widely used in mobile devices, and its power-efficient CPUs are becoming more appealing for AI-driven data centers.
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Baidu Surges 12% as Ernie AI Goes Free, Deep Search Unveiled
Reuters
Baidu shares jumped 12% after the Chinese tech giant which owns the local equivalent of Google search engine announced its Ernie AI chatbot will be free from April 1.
The company also unveiled a free deep search feature to enhance reasoning.
With 430 million users, Baidu was China’s first to launch a ChatGPT-style bot but now faces pressure from DeepSeek’s cheaper models.
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