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Essential’s first smartphone is coming to the UK
The first phone from Android creator Andy Rubin's new company, Essential, is coming to the UK. As the Financial Times reports, the startup is holding talks with a number of British carriers, including EE, about a potential exclusivity deal. It seems nothing has been decided beyond an "imminent" release date, which the FT promises will be sometime this year. In the US, the phone will cost $699, or $749 with a 360-degree camera accessory through the Essential website. Sprint will be the only US carrier to stock the phone, which, despite being last place in the "big four" race, might make business sense, as my colleague Chris Velazco explains.
EE is offering six-month Apple Music trials with ‘free’ data
It's only been eight days since Three announced it was zero-rating data for popular streaming services like Netflix, but already the operator is finding itself in good company. Earlier this week, Virgin Mobile added Twitter to the list of messaging services it had made "free" to access, and now EE is getting in on the act with an extension of its Apple Music streaming trial. From July 19th, new and existing customers on all EE pay monthly handset and SIM only plans will be able to claim six months of free streaming, which won't count towards their monthly data allowance.
EE tempts students with a free 500MB 'data safety net'
Most students are currently enjoying their summer away from the rigours of university life, and EE has decided to give them one more thing to feel happy about. The provider has introduced a new perk for those in higher education it calls a "data safety net." Any student on a two-year handset plan or 12-month SIM-only contract can now claim 500MB of free data each month, which kicks in once they've exhausted their regular monthly allowance.
EE is trying to take credit for the EU's free roaming law
On June 15th, UK mobile operators will be forced to abolish roaming fees for customers travelling across Europe, thanks to a European Commission directive that's been two years in the making. Britain's biggest carrier, EE, must abide by the new law, but it won't let that stop it from taking some of the plaudits. Today, the company announced that it will "launch European roaming for all customers at no extra cost". The launch date? June 15th.
How the UK plans to block illegal Kodi soccer streams
Last week, at the High Court, the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) was granted stronger powers to crack down on the illegal streaming of English football matches. Instead of chasing websites hosting live players, the League can now block the servers that provide the live feeds, cutting off "Kodi boxes" -- a combination of legitimate media centre software with non-authorised third-party plugins -- and similar IPTV services. But how will it be enforced? Now that the order is publicly available, we can shed some light on how the FAPL intends to utilise its new powers.
EE looks to drones and big balloons to tackle 4G 'notspots'
One of EE's biggest challenges is connecting rural customers. The UK network's 4G coverage is slowly improving, but there are still countless subscribers stuck in so-called "notspots." To help, EE is working on drones, balloons and trucks that can provide temporary access in a pinch. They'll never replace a traditional base station, but in the case of an emergency -- a flood or severe power outage, for instance -- they could offer a crucial line to the rest of the world. In the future, these "air masts" could also provide ongoing internet access, similar to Alphabet's Project Loon, while EE wrestles for planning permission to build new, permanent network hubs.
Ofcom fines EE £2.7 million for overcharging customers
Oh dear. Ofcom has caught another mobile carrier failing in its duty to provide decent customer support. The villain this time is EE, after it overcharged more than 30,000 customers for calling its "150" service line. These subscribers had calling while roaming in the EU -- the problem is they were charged £1.20 per minute, rather than EE's promised 19p per minute rate. That "carelessness" and 'negligence," as Ofcom describes it, led to a combined overcharge of £245,700 between July 2014 and 2015. EE is now being fined £2.7 million for the mess, which needs to be paid in 20 working days. Ofcom will then transfer the money to the UK's Treasury.
EE's 4G coverage now bests all UK 3G networks
EE's 4G coverage now exceeds that of any 3G network in the UK, the carrier has announced, after it switched on 800MHz spectrum capacity at 700 cell sites across the country. This filled in 5,000 square kilometers of 4G 'not spots' and improved indoor coverage in half a million homes overnight, according to the provider (the low-frequency signals penetrate trees, walls and such better, you see). EE hopes to add 800MHz capacity to a further 3,000 sites before the end of next year, too.
Ofcom bans BT/EE from bidding on new 4G spectrum
In a bid to bring balance to the UK's mobile industry, communications watchdog Ofcom has confirmed it will limit BT and EE's role in upcoming 4G auctions. Next year, Ofcom will sell off 190 MHz of spectrum in the 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz bands, upping Britain's overall 4G footprint by almost a third, but BT and its newly-purchased subsidiary will be excluded from bidding on the entire 2.3 GHz band. Ofcom is worried their involvement "could harm competition in the next few years" if they were allowed to own nearly half of the usable spectrum in the market.
EE TV now highlights what shows are trending on Twitter
Ever feel like your colleagues are speaking an entirely different language when you're eavesdropping around the water cooler? Who is this Greg guy with the insatiable appetite they keep bringing up? Well, if you happen to have an EE set-top box sitting under your TV at home, then prepare to up your small talk game. As part of the platform's first major update since the ability to download recordings to phones and tablets was added, EE has today brought various "Watch with Twitter" features to its TV service after partnering with the social network.
EE updates its £130 Robin tablet for kids ahead of Christmas
It was a year ago to this very day that EE began offering the first Robin tablet: a bumper-bound slate designed with kids in mind. And with Christmas fast approaching, the carrier has today launched an updated, second-gen Robin to fill those empty stockings. It brings a few welcome, albeit relatively minor improvements on the hardware front. You're still looking at a 7-inch (1,024 x 600) display, quad-core 1.1GHz processor and 2-megapixel camera, but both RAM and storage have doubled to 2GB and 16GB, respectively.
Google's Daydream View VR reaches stores November 10th
You won't have to wait much longer to see whether or not Google's Daydream View headset is a viable contender to the likes of Gear VR. Google has announced that its virtual reality wearable will reach both the Google Store and retail in five countries (the US, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia) on November 10th. In the US, it'll be available for $79 through Best Buy and Verizon. British buyers can track it down for £69 at Carphone Warehouse or EE, and Canadians can pick it up for $99 at Best Buy, Bell, Rogers or Telus.
EE follows rivals by bundling broadband line rental prices
When the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) introduced new legislation requiring UK ISPs and providers to be clearer with their broadband pricing earlier this year, some heeded the advice faster than others. Vodafone and TalkTalk were the first to bundle line rental in their broadband packages, but today EE is joining the list. As of now, customers signing up to a new broadband and calls contract will receive a clear monthly price.
Of course EE's hyping wireless headphones on iPhone 7 day
EE's Add to Plan scheme lets anyone taking out a two-year smartphone contract walk away with accessories in exchange for a couple of extra quid tacked onto their bill each month. Launched last year, EE today announced a slight change to the T&Cs. Instead of the cost being spread over 18 months and customers paying a premium for the convenience, they'll now square it away in 11 and pay out no more than the retail price. A wider product range will soon be offered, too, including wearables from Fitbit (from £8 per month), smartwatches and Samsung's Gear VR headset (also £8 per month).
EE begins rolling out a faster 4G network
Like any four-year-old, EE's 4G network hasn't yet fulfilled its potential. For its last major upgrade, the carrier flipped the switch on Cat 6 LTE-Advanced two years ago; and today, EE has announced it's begun rolling out even faster Cat 9 technology (the first UK provider to do so, it seems). This increases the maximum theoretical download speed on EE's "4G+" network from 300 Mbps to 450 Mbps, though real-world testing puts the max at more like 360 Mbps. The catch? Only a handful of phones can take full advantage.
EE's latest perk is six months of free Apple Music
Hot on the heels of EE giving subscribers free access to BT Sport's app for six months -- big spenders get it for the length of their contract, too -- the carrier is adding yet another tantalising perk. Starting September 1st, any new or upgrading pay-monthly customer on a handset or SIM-only plan can also enjoy a free, six-month Apple Music subscription. It's the standard win-win scenario for both companies. EE hopes it'll tempt users to stick with or move to the network, with Apple hoping you'll cough up £10 each month to keep your subscription active after the trial period ends.
EE's Max handset plans include free EU roaming and BT Sport
EE hasn't done a great deal to mix up its tariff options this year, and you know what that means. Correct... we've got a complicated new pricing structure to chew through. The carrier has revamped its pay-monthly handset plans specifically, splitting them into three tiers separated mainly by maximum data allowance and value-added perks. While the table above gives you a pretty comprehensive overview of the new status quo, let's break down the key differences briefly.
EE begins offering six free months of BT Sport
The new football season is almost upon us, what with Wimbledon, the Euros and the Tour de France out of the way. (Of course, there's still the small matter of the Olympics and Paralympics.) As promised, EE is giving its subscribers better access to the action through a six-month trial of BT Sport. To sign up, text "Sport" to 150 from an EE smartphone, or call customer services. The only caveat is that you have to be a pay monthly (phone, tablet or SIM-only) subscriber -- sorry, pay-as-you-go customers.
Android will now automatically send your location to 999 operators
When you call 999, operators need to know exactly where an emergency is before they can dispatch the required service. That information can be difficult to share if you're in unfamiliar surroundings but a new update coming to Android will take all of the guesswork out of locating where you are. It's called the Emergency Location Service and it uses available WiFi connections, GPS and mobile masts to pinpoint your location and share it with an operator while you're speaking with them.
EE customers to get six months of free BT Sport
With Euro 2016 now over and Cristiano Ronaldo's tears dry on his winning face, the focus is now back on domestic campaigns and the start of the most lucrative Premier League season in history. The first matches kick off in just under a month but today BT and EE have announced a new deal that will offer free access to all BT Sport channels for six months.
