Qualcomm launches new 5G smartphone chip ahead of network rollout February 19, 2019 Tech giant Qualcomm today unveiled its second generation of chips that allow smartphones to connect to 5G in a bid to fasttrack the rollout of the new network. The US chipmaker said the so-called modem chip is designed to support the global 5G rollout and can also work on 4G networks, allowing greater flexibility for [...]
Apple to resume selling older iPhone models in Germany after Qualcomm dispute February 14, 2019 Apple is to resume sales of its older iPhone models in Germany, but only with chips from Qualcomm as part of a long-running patent dispute. The tech giant had to pull some iPhone models out of the country last year in order to comply with a lawsuit won by Qualcomm, which argued Apple had infringed [...]
Against the tide of shareholder activism February 12, 2019 You cannot blame boardrooms today for being preoccupied, with everything from Brexit contingency planning to the prospect of a Corbyn government. Yet there is another, more pressing need for every UK listed business to be preparing for: activist investors. Shareholder activism, whereby an investor leverages their stake to put pressure on the management of a [...]
Apple fixes FaceTime eavesdropping bug February 8, 2019 Tech giant Apple has said that a bug which allowed for eavesdropping on the firm’s FaceTime software has been fixed. The privacy bug, which allowed iPhone and Mac owners to eavesdrop in on recipients if they did not answer their call, was discovered by US teenager Grant Thompson. Apple said it would compensate the Thompson family [...]
Apple turnover: Former Burberry chief to leave executive role at iPhone maker February 5, 2019 Former Burberry chief executive Angela Ahrendts is to leave her role as Apple's head of retail in April, after five years at the company. Having led Apple's retail and online stores, Ahrendts will now be chasing “new personal and professional pursuits”. It was revealed last month that Ahrendts received a total pay packet of $5m (£3.9m) from Apple in [...]
Apple reclaims its title as the world’s most valuable public company February 5, 2019 Apple has taken back its crown at the top of the tech heap, becoming the world's most valuable public company for a second time after losing the title last year. Boosted by a small 1.7 per cent share price rise as markets opened this afternoon, Apple's market capitalisation rose to $820.8bn (£633.1bn), up from hitting [...]
Apple chipmaker AMS warns of ‘subdued’ smartphone demand hitting revenue February 5, 2019 Shares in Austrian chipmaker AMS slipped more than 13 per cent today, after the iPhone supplier warned investors about a smartphone slowdown. The firm revised down its revenue expectations for the current quarter to between $350m (£270m) and $390m, reflecting continued "subdued smartphone demand" globally. Reporting its results for the three months to 31 December, AMS [...]
China’s success among western firms will depend on the desirability of the brand February 5, 2019 Not a week goes by when there isn’t a data print-out of China posting the weakest number since… well pick a year. Last Friday, for example, the Caixin manufacturing survey posted a second consecutive month of contraction and the lowest reading since 2016. The slowdown has triggered a set of 2019 growth downgrades from the analyst [...]
Viacom launches on-demand streaming app for MTV reality shows February 4, 2019 MTV owner Viacom has launched a new streaming app aimed at younger audiences as it joins a growing list of broadcasters offering an on-demand service. MTV Play, which will initially be available only in the UK, will offer a range of catch-up and box set programmes, as well as a live feed of MTV’s broadcast channel. [...]
DEBATE: Should Apple produce a cheaper iPhone to stem the decline in sales? February 4, 2019 Should Apple produce a cheaper iPhone to stem the decline in sales? Carolyn Dailey, founder of Creative Entrepreneurs, says YES. Apple has been missing out on a huge opportunity to increase sales, keep ahead of the competition, and build brand loyalty with key audiences that can’t currently afford an iPhone. These include students, freelancers and startup entrepreneurs, [...]