Nepal may get a third mobile carrier, this, according to the new Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel. The two current carriers have a guarantee in place that no other operators will enter the scene until September 2010 at the earliest. Minister Pokharel commented: “It is the responsibility of the telecom company to provide…
If you plan on committing a crime, do not take your mobile phone with you
The New York Times just published an article that sounds like it came straight out of the latest mega Hollywood action film. Law enforcement is increasingly working with American operators to help prosecute criminals. In one recent case, Mikhail Mallayev, had his alibi disproved after records indicated that he was indeed in New York during…
EU kills a plan that would have raised taxes on mobile phones by up to 14%
Recently proposed legislation in the EU that would have seen mobile phones reclassified as “multi-functional devices” and would have raised taxes by as much as 14% has been killed. Mobile phones shipping with TV receivers, would have received an increased tax of 14%, and mobile with GPS functionality would have become 3% more expensive. A…
Europe: Today is the first day of cheaper roaming
Thanks to the European Commission, today EU nations can jump for joy at reduced roaming prices. I’m not going to bother rephrasing this Reuters article, since these paragraphs sum up everything you need to know: Operators will be allowed to charge customers a maximum of 11 euro cents per roamed SMS, excluding sales tax, compared…
Nokia Siemens Admits Limited Iranian Interceptability Over Their Hardware
The BBC has recently alleged that the Nokia Siemens network currently set up in Iran allows authorities to intercept all communications, “including voice calls, text messaging, instant messages, and web traffic,” to which Nokia Siemens explained that they have “provided Lawful Intercept capability solely for the monitoring of local voice calls in Iran” as mandated…
Lifeline: 1.4 million Americans recieving free or very cheap mobile service
Lifeline is a service that you would not be proud to tell someone you’re a part of. You need to fit within certain criteria the federal government has set for you to be labeled “low income” or qualify for social services. Around 90% of Americans have a mobile phone according to Nielsen, which may sound…
Iran Locks Down SMS to Hush Protesters
If you haven’t heard, shit has hit the proverbial fan in Iran after a new government was falsely elected and immediately mobilized its military to confront protesters. As a part of an attempt to minimize media coverage, the government has restricted information outlets, including internet, phone and SMS. Still, there’s a lot of information making…
Government of Ontario Bans Talking, Texting While Driving
In a move that I applaud, the government of Ontario officially passed Bill 118, the ‘Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act’. The act bans drivers from using handheld communication/entertainment devices while behind the wheel. Bravo Ontario, bravo! The act will start to take effect this fall, to give folks time to prep for…
Bill C-285 Threatens BlackBerry Infrastructure Security
A bill has been presented to the Canadian House of Commons that apes the wiretapping rights found in the American Patriot Act. Bill C-285, according to analysts, could sour businesses like Research in Motion, who depend on having a locked-down wireless infrastructure. The purpose for The Modernization of Investigative Techniques Act reads: The purpose of…