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The story of EE has been turned into a book
Nothing says summer like lying on a beach and getting stuck into a good book. But what to read? A 19th century classic, or perhaps Murakami's latest surrealist tale? What about the fascinating story of how mobile provider EE came to be? Well, look no further than The 4G Mobile Revolution: Creation, Innovation and Transformation at EE, penned by former network CEO Olaf Swantee and now departed comms director Stu Jackson.
EE's 'Jay' own-brand tablet is its cheapest to date
It's been almost a year since EE added a new tablet to its own-brand, avian-themed range -- or one aimed squarely at grown-ups, at least -- so you know what that means. With only refurbished Harrier Tabs left in stock, it's time for a new slate to become EE's value offering. At £120 on pay-as-you-go, the "Jay" is the cheapest homegrown tablet EE's ever launched; and it shows, at least when compared with the more powerful, larger-screened Harrier Tab.
EE disputes Three's 'undisputed' reliability claim, wins
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned a billboard advert for Three's mobile network, after a six-month complaint from rival carrier EE was finally upheld. The ad, which features a purple Muppet-like character called Jackson being held aloft in a Rocky-style pose, featured the tagline: "The undisputed. UK's most reliable network. Again." EE claimed Three couldn't state it was the "undisputed" market leader without saying it was based on YouGov sample data and the ASA agreed.
EE's Power Bar chargers aren't coming back
A little more than a year ago EE decided to give its customers free portable battery packs in the UK. The idea was solid enough -- everyone gets a "Power Bar" for free, and can swap them for a new, fully charged replacement in any EE store. Except, they were soon deemed a fire risk after one exploded while charging, leaving a medical student with a nasty burn. All of the Power Bars were eventually recalled and we were left wondering whether the scheme was gone for good. Turns out, it is.
EE TV lets you download recordings to phones and tablets
EE TV is a combination of free-to-view TV channels, DVR-style recording and on-demand apps like BBC iPlayer and Now TV. Today, it's being updated with "Recordings to Go," a new feature that lets customers watch their saved programmes on the move. You can set and manage TV recordings through the EE TV app, which are then handled by the EE box in your living room. Once they've been recorded, you can download them to your phone or tablet over your home's WiFi network, making them accessible anywhere and, perhaps more importantly, offline.
Facebook, Intel and carriers team up to rethink telecom networks
Facebook set out to create a better home for your data with the Open Compute Project, but that's only part of the problem -- without good telecom networks, you can't get that data. That's where the company's new Telecom Infra Project aims to help. The partnership with 30 companies (including Intel, Nokia and multiple carriers) hopes to improve the cost, speed and reach of networks through open, collaborative designs. Ideally, you'll see technologies like 5G arrive faster, and data service in rural areas where it would normally be impractical.
BT's acquisition of EE is complete
For BT and EE, the moment has finally arrived. All of the relevant regulators have given their approval, allowing BT to acquire the UK's largest mobile network. It's a £12.5 billion deal that will have huge ramifications for the broadband, TV and telephone industries. Both brands will be left alone in the short term, but there's obvious potential to combine their respective proficiencies -- EE in mobile, BT in broadband and TV -- to take on providers like Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk.
BT gets the green light to buy EE for £12.5 billion
In the 11 months since BT confirmed it was buying EE, the UK's biggest carrier, the two companies have waited on the approval of regulators that need to make sure their union won't stifle competition. It took almost eight months for the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) to provisionally give the deal the thumbs-up, but today BT has finally received the final rubber stamp it has been craving. In its investigation, the CMA looked at potential issues raised by rivals, which included TalkTalk, Vodafone and other major UK providers. It believes they would "not result in a substantial lessening of competition" in any of the markets that BT and EE operate in, including retail mobile, wholesale mobile, mobile backhaul, wholesale broadband and retail broadband services.
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UK carriers say draft snooping law will be a technical feat
Key to the draft Investigatory Powers Bill is a proposal that would require internet and other communications providers to collect and store 12 months of web traffic data, so it can be made available to government agencies when needed. It's a subject of ongoing debate in Parliament, and just last week, the UK's major ISPs voiced their concerns over the cost and technical challenges associated with gathering and processing these Internet Connection Records (ICRs). Yesterday, it was the turn of execs from EE, Three, O2 and Vodafone to meet with the draft bill's joint committee, and while the big four carriers echoed the sentiments of the ISPs, they are even more wary of the scale and scope of what the government is asking them to deliver.
EE recalls every free Power Bar it ever gave out over fire risks
If you own one of EE's free Power Bar chargers, we have some bad news. After issuing a partial recall on selected units in August, the company announced today that it's asking for every single portable charging unit to be handed back. Tests reveal more models may be susceptible to overheating and could pose a fire risk.
EE's tiny 4G lifelogging Capture Cam goes on sale
Not content with offering a variety of smartphones and tablets, EE has expanded its accessory portfolio with a range of broadband devices and action cameras. We've already met the Action Cam -- basically a GoPro with 4G streaming capability -- but the carrier also recently debuted another, smaller, connected camera: the Capture Cam. It's taken almost a month, but today the pocket-sized snapper has finally gone on sale, just in time for Christmas.
EE is considering whether to block ads on customers' phones
The ability to block online ads could soon come from an unlikely source. Instead of installing a browser extension or a third-party iOS app, there's a chance Brits will be given the option by their mobile network. We've heard rumblings of this before, but now a UK carrier has confirmed it's looking at such a feature; EE's CEO Olaf Swantee tells The Sunday Telegraph he's launched an internal "strategic review" to see whether customers should be given "more choice and control over the level and intensity of ads on mobile."
EE's wallet-busting 'Complete' tariffs come with a 50GB data allowance
EE split its pay-monthly plans into two tiers a couple of years ago, offering "double-speed" data and the highest allowances to anyone willing to shell out for its pricey "Extra" tariffs. Naturally, 4G contracts have become increasingly more affordable since, leaving Brewsters everywhere with pockets ablaze. Not to worry, as EE has quietly introduced new "Complete" tariffs crafted for high rollers that get through data as quickly as they get through cash. Like EE's Extra plans, opting for a Complete package affords you unlimited calls and texts, as well as "double-speed" data. But only on a Complete tariff will you find a 50GB monthly data allowance, inclusive international and 084/087 calling minutes, picture messages and the option to upgrade your handset early, one year into the 24-month contract. As you've probably gathered, these plans are just a little on the expensive side.
EE unveils a tiny 4G clip-on camera
EE boasts one of the UK's biggest and fastest mobile networks, but that doesn't mean it can just sit back and wait for new customers to roll in. To keep itself busy, the company has got into the hardware game, producing smartphones, tablets and, quite recently, an action camera. Its GoPro aspirations continue today with the Capture Cam, a pocket-sized snapper for recording and livestreaming everyday moments. It's a square device, measuring 55mm on either side, and comes with a clip so you can easily keep it on your shirt or backpack. Inside is an 8-megapixel sensor that can shoot stills and video up to 1080p at 30 frames per second. Like the Action Cam that preceded it, it's also capable of livestreaming at a slightly lower resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second.
UK watchdog gives BT and EE's merger the go-ahead
BT's £12.5 billion acquisition of EE cleared a big hurdle today after the UK's competition watchdog agreed to provisionally clear the deal. The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) said today that after considering whether a union between the two companies would impact mobile, fixed line and broadband services, the merger was "not expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in any market in the UK."
EE's £130 Robin tablet is aimed squarely at kids
Tesco might be easing back on building family-friendly phones and tablets, but UK retailers and carriers believe there's still plenty of interest in such products. Amazon recently surprised us with a very capable £50 Fire tablet, and now EE wants a piece of the action with its new kid-centric Robin slate. The 4G-ready device features a 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, a quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of internal storage (with microSD support), 2-megapixel camera and is powered by EE's own Kurio OS, which is based on Android 5.1 and offers plenty of parental controls out of the box.
Ofcom's spectrum licence fee increases: The carrier backlash begins
The UK's big four mobile providers -- EE, O2, Vodafone and Three -- woke up to a figurative punch in the gut this morning. Telecoms regulator Ofcom announced its final decision on increases to spectrum licence fees, and collectively, the carriers are looking at an annual bill of almost £200 million, compared with the £64.4 million they currently pay. The jump is said to realise the true financial worth of the mobile spectrum each provider licences; as the regulator puts it, spectrum "is a valuable and finite resource, and the new fees reflect that value." Ofcom's decision is set in stone, and mobile service providers have to come up with the money if they hope to continue, you know, providing mobile service. We can only speculate on how it'll play out, but you'd have to be incredibly optimistic to think consumers aren't going to be on the hook for at least some of the inflated bill. At this point, damage control and blame shifting are of primary importance to everyone involved. The backlash begins...
Bills could rise as Ofcom triples UK carriers' licence fees
After toying with the idea of quadrupling the amount providers must pay for mobile spectrum for almost two years, UK communications regulator Ofcom has finally arrived at a decision. It announced today that the big four -- EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three -- will now pay a total of £199.6 million annually for their allocations of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands, more than triple the £64.4 million they currently have to hand over.
Ofcom tells mobile networks to sort out their customer service
Mobile networks have a lousy reputation when it comes to customer service. The moment you walk into a store it's all smiles and pleasantries, but once you're an established subscriber the experience can quickly sour. If anything goes wrong with your account or network access, or you want to switch provider, calling a company representative can be a gruelling, stressful experience. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, experienced an uptick in customer complaints between May and July this year. The numbers aren't unprecedented, but clearly Ofcom wants the situation to improve, not deteriorate. To that end, it's been meeting with carriers to "discuss their customer services practices and to drive improvements in behaviour." That's not an entirely new step for the regulator -- it's held similar talks in the past -- but the timing here could be particularly important.
EE TV's getting new mobile features and on-demand apps
EE TV is a tough sell at the moment because, in exchange for the rudimentary set-top box, you have to sign up for both EE mobile and home broadband. Freeview DVR, multi-device streaming and some on-demand services are a nice bonus if you happen to be signed up for both anyway, but it's hardly a reason to switch. EE seems to have recognised this, because today it's announcing a software update which puts further emphasis on the mobile part. From August 25th, you'll see a new section in the EE TV app called "My TV," which personalises the guide by showing your favourite shows, channels and recordings. You'll even be able to "Flick" your photos and videos to the TV Chromecast-style.
