Huawei Strikes Back with $590 Mate 70 Air to Rival iPhone

Huawei has fired back at Apple with the launch of its Mate 70 Air, a razor-thin smartphone clearly designed to rival the new iPhone Air.

The handset is 6.6 millimeters thick, priced at 4,199 yuan — about $590 — nearly half Apple’s $999 tag, and aims squarely at design-focused users.

The move underscores China’s renewed tech rivalry with Apple, as local makers from Xiaomi to Huawei challenge its dominance by offering premium specs for less.

Huawei’s new model keeps a 7-inch display, stereo speakers, and a big 6,500mAh battery, running its own operating system instead of Android.

Deliveries start November 11, and analysts say the pricing could intensify the smartphone war in China’s high-end market.

Telefonica Shifts Cash from Shareholders to AI, Networks, and Cybersecurity

Telefónica shares plunged more than ten percent in Madrid — their biggest drop in more than five years — after Spain’s largest telecom said it will halve its dividend next year. 

The layout cut to fifteen cents a share is part of new chairman Marc Murtra’s turnaround plan, shifting cash from investors to reinvestment in core networks, defense, and cybersecurity. 

Analysts warn the savings may be limited, but Murtra says the move will fund acquisitions and boost efficiency through AI and cost reductions. 

The strategy underscores how Europe’s telecoms are under pressure to modernize infrastructure and protect profitability.

Telefónica reported weaker-than-expected third-quarter profit after taking one-off impairment charges on its tech unit. 

The telecom giant posted net income of 271 million euros — well below analyst forecasts of about 418 million. 

Still, the company said it remains on track to meet full-year targets.

Competition, Regulation Force BT to Rethink Rollout Plans

BT’s broadband woes are spilling into the UK’s wider mobile ecosystem, as surging competition from low-cost fibre rivals and regulatory uncertainty threaten the company’s push to unify fixed and mobile networks.

Openreach lost 242,000 customers last quarter—well above forecasts—just as its CEO warned he may pause the final phase of the UK’s fibre rollout amid Ofcom price curbs.

Despite the setback, BT beat earnings expectations, with profits boosted by cost cuts and easing capital expenditure after its fibre buildout; shares are up 25% this year.

CEO Allison Kirkby is betting on a leaner BT and new satellite partnerships with Elon Musk’s Starlink to extend rural reach and strengthen 5G backhaul.

But with alt-nets and Virgin Media O2 racing to fuse fibre, mobile and satellite, BT’s challenge is no longer just keeping up on broadband—it’s staying relevant in a converged mobile future.

Australian Social Media Ban, Kick and Reddit among Platforms Affected

The social media ban for Australians under 16 will take effect on December 10, and now we know how it will actually work. 

Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit must delete or block all underage accounts and stop new ones from being created. 

They’ll rely on age verification tools — from document checks to AI-driven facial or behavioral analysis — but won’t be allowed to use government IDs alone.

The law threatens fines of up to A$49.5 million, or $32 million, for each breach, though kids and parents won’t be penalized. Enforcement will focus on whether platforms take “reasonable steps” — not on catching every teen who slips through.

Regulators say the goal isn’t perfection, but protection. And with Europe and Singapore studying similar moves, Australia’s experiment could become the global blueprint for age-gated social media.

Xiaomi Diplomacy Moment

During APEC in South Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented Xiaomi smartphones to South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung, joking about potential backdoors when Lee asked if the line was secure. 

The lighthearted exchange touched on a serious issue: tech security and alleged espionage, which has been a major source of tension between the US and China. 

The handsets, featuring curved displays from South Korean suppliers, highlight cross-border collaboration in mobile hardware. 

For the mobile ecosystem, the moment underscores both the geopolitical sensitivities around Chinese devices and the continued integration of Chinese and South Korean supply chains in smartphones and 5G technology.

Nvidia Hits $5 Trillion, Dominates AI Market

Before the recent tech correction, Nvidia has become the first company ever valued at $5 trillion, driving most of the stock market’s gains since 2023. Deals with Samsung, Nokia, and Hyundai highlight its dominance in AI, with revenue projected at $285 billion next year. 

The company’s rise has implications for the mobile and IoT ecosystem, as Nvidia chips power smartphones, edge devices, and AI-driven cloud services, linking global markets, consumer electronics, and industrial networks. 

Experts warn that Nvidia’s market influence makes it a critical node in the connected-device economy, with any disruption potentially affecting everything from apps to mobile AI services.

Malware, Phishing Fuel Billions in Cargo Heists — Proofpoint Study

Cybersecurity researchers are warning of a rise in cargo theft ad hackers team up with organized crime, targeting trucking and freight companies. 

According to Proofpoint, attackers use malware and phishing scams to hijack shipments, often selling stolen goods online or overseas, causing billions in losses. 

The threat extends across the entire supply chain, from ports to consumers. Experts highlight the mobile ecosystem as a key vulnerability, since drivers and dispatchers rely on smartphones and tablets for load tracking and communications, meaning securing mobile devices is now critical to preventing cyber-enabled cargo heists. 

Proofpoint is a MEF member. 

Historians Warn Musk’s Grokipedia Spreads False History

Historians are warning that Elon Musk’s new AI-powered encyclopedia, Grokipedia, spreads false information and favors rightwing views. 

Experts, including Sir Richard Evans, found entries on historical figures full of errors, treating casual online posts as equal to verified research. 

The issue stems from Musk’s AI model, which aggregates content without rigorous human checks. 

Critics say this could undermine trust in AI knowledge, spread misinformation, and politicize history. 

With most users accessing Grokipedia via smartphones, the app risks creating a mobile-first echo chamber, driving engagement while amplifying bias and errors across Musk’s ecosystem.

Switch 2 Becomes Fastest-Selling Console in Years

Nintendo has raised its sales forecast for the new Switch 2 console to 19 million units by March — up sharply from 15 million — after selling more than 10 million devices in just six months. 

The $450 console is now one of the fastest-selling pieces of gaming hardware ever, powering Nintendo’s biggest holiday season in years. The company also lifted profit and dividend targets as demand outpaces supply in Japan and the US. 

The Switch 2’s early success highlights how gaming — increasingly tied to mobile and cloud platforms — remains one of the most resilient corners of consumer tech, even as other parts of the industry grapple with AI-driven costs and uncertainty.