We take a weekly look at mobile and tech stories from around the world. Headlines include… Trump to Apple: Make iPhones in America or Pay Up, Meta’s Mobile Empire Faces Judgment After Landmark Antitrust Trial, Apple to Launch Unified Gaming Hub Across Devicesand much more… Alternatively listen On MEF Radio.
Trump to Apple: Make iPhones in America or Pay Up
Reuters
Donald Trump has threatened new tariffs targeting smartphones made overseas, including iPhones. He demands Apple manufacture more devices in the U.S., warning of a 25% tariff on foreign-made phones if they don’t comply. The move pressures Apple and competitors like Samsung, challenging global supply chains in the mobile industry. While Apple is shifting some production to India, experts say full U.S. iPhone manufacturing is costly and complex. The trade tensions could impact device prices and availability in the U.S. market.
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Trump’s iPhone Push Hits Snags: Automation Gaps, Legal Doubts
Reuters
President Trump’s push to bring iPhone manufacturing back to the U.S. faces major legal and technical hurdles.
According to the Wall Street Journal, experts say building iPhones in the U.S. requires advanced automation technology that’s not yet ready, especially for detailed assembly work. Legal experts also question if Trump has the authority to impose company-specific tariffs under emergency powers, complicating enforcement. The battle highlights the challenges of reshaping the global mobile supply chain.
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Meta’s Mobile Empire Faces Judgment After Landmark Antitrust Trial
The Verge
The fate of Meta’s dominance in the mobile ecosystem now rests with a federal judge. The seven-week trial wrapped up yesterday, and now each side has four months to make its case in writing. Then US District Judge James Boasberg will decide whether Meta has an illegal monopoly in the social media market, and whether that dominance stemmed from its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The FTC alleges the acquisitions of the popular apps were illegal moves to stifle competition, targeting the “friends and family” niche in social networking. Meta counters that the mobile market has evolved, citing competition from TikTok, YouTube, and iMessage. A forced breakup could shake up how mobile users globally engage, share, and advertise.With four months for final arguments and a potential ruling by year-end, the outcome could reshape the core structure of Meta’s mobile-first empire.
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Game On: Apple to Launch Unified Gaming Hub Across Devices
Bloomberg
Apple is set to launch a dedicated gaming app preinstalled across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TV later this year, aiming to unify game launching, achievements, leaderboards, and communication in one place — Bloomberg reported.
The new app will replace the longstanding but underused Game Center, integrating the App Store’s game section and promoting Apple Arcade subscriptions.
The move comes just days after Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch, as Apple pushes to strengthen its mobile ecosystem’s gaming appeal.
While iPhones dominate mobile gaming revenue, Apple hopes this new app and upcoming iOS updates will make gaming more seamless across its devices, even as Mac’s gaming reputation lags behind Windows PCs.
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Musk’s Grok Lands on Telegram: Big AI Deal Overshadowed by Durov Investigation
Reuters
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has agreed in principle to a $300 million partnership with Telegram to integrate its Grok chatbot into the messaging app’s platform.
The deal includes cash, equity, and a revenue-sharing arrangement.
However, Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, is currently under formal investigation in France for alleged failures in content moderation, including the spread of illegal materials on the app.
The French government has denied any political motives behind the investigation, while Russia has warned France against “political persecution” of Durov.
This partnership underscores the growing influence of AI in global communication platforms, despite the ongoing legal challenges faced by Telegram and despite geopolitical tensions.
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UK Police Double Facial Scans to 5 Million Amid Privacy Fears
Guardian
Live facial recognition is quietly becoming embedded in UK policing—with nearly 5 million faces scanned last year, double 2023’s figure.
Police vans and fixed cameras are being deployed more widely, including plans for “zones of safety” in major city centers. But critics warn the tech lacks legal oversight and risks bias.
For mobile users, this expansion could mean being constantly scanned during daily commutes or events—raising deep concerns over data privacy and consent in public spaces increasingly integrated with surveillance-driven AI.
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App Store Ruling Could Unlock $20B for Mobile Game Developers
Financial post
Mobile game developers are set for a major revenue boost following a court ruling that loosens Apple’s App Store restrictions.
Freed from Apple’s 15 to 30 percent commission fees, developers could gain nearly $20 billion over the next few years — according to Bloomberg.
The shift will encourage more direct payment options and alternative app stores, fueling innovation and growth in mobile gaming ecosystems.
Big publishers like Take-Two and Microsoft are already exploring direct-to-consumer stores, while new payment platforms are lowering fees, giving gamers more choices and developers better margins.
This landmark ruling could reshape how mobile games connect with players beyond traditional app stores.
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IDC Slashes 2025 Smartphone Forecast to 0.6% Amid Tariff Fears
Reuters
IDC has cut its global smartphone shipment growth forecast for 2025 to just 0.6%, down from 2.3%, citing tariff-related economic uncertainty and weaker consumer spending.The U.S. and China remain key markets, with China expected to grow 3%, helped by subsidies favoring Android devices. Apple faces a 1.9% shipment decline amid competition from Huawei and limited subsidies for many models.
Upcoming promotions like China’s 618 shopping festival and the iPhone 17 launch may boost demand. Apple is also shifting more production to India and Vietnam to reduce reliance on China amid trade tensions. However, potential new U.S. tariffs of 20-30% on smartphones made outside the country could hurt the U.S. market outlook
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T-Mobile’s screen recording scare turns out to be a privacy nothingburger
Android Police
T-Mobile is facing backlash after users discovered an unannounced screen recording feature added to its T-Life app in a recent update. The tool, which sparked concerns over privacy and transparency, was not disclosed until media inquiries prompted a response from the company. T-Mobile clarified that the screen recorder is designed solely to help troubleshoot issues within the app and does not collect sensitive information or operate outside the app itself. However, critics argue that adding such a feature without upfront disclosure or making it opt-in erodes trust, even if the intention is benign.
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Apple could simplify eSIM transfers from iPhone to Android soon
T3
Signal announced an update to its WindoeSIMs offer convenience, such as adding roaming plans with a quick scan, but switching between Android and iPhone can be tricky. That may soon change. Android 16 beta code discovered in Google’s SIM Manager app references iOS 19, hinting at upcoming support for eSIM transfers from iOS to Android. This functionality doesn’t currently exist, but Google’s preparations suggest Apple may introduce it with iOS 19, potentially announced at WWDC 2025. If implemented, it would simplify switching phones across platforms, addressing a key friction point for users embracing eSIM technology.
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