Samsung Electronics has recalled roughly 2.5 million Galaxy Note7 devices sold in 10 countries after confirming a battery flaw that consumers said resulted in explosions while the handsets were charging. Attention focused on Samsung SDI, which made batteries for 70% of the devices produced.
Sony is gearing up to launch Xperia Ear, an earpiece that allows users to control their pocketed smartphones with voice commands. The device is part of a drive by Sony to build a future through the internet of things and services that produce recurring revenues.
Analysts have set modest expectations for Apple's iPhone 7, predicting a 5% increase in iPhone sales for the company's 2017 fiscal year. Consumers are keeping their phones longer, analysts say.
The European Commission has taken steps to protect carriers against consumer abuse of new broad, free roaming rules that are set to go live in 2017. The EC proposed allowing wireless subscribers up to 90 days of free roaming annually, but users must reconnect to their home network once a month.
Nevada has asked tech companies to come up with a way to use connected-vehicle and infrastructure technologies to keep pedestrians safe. The Nevada Center for Advanced Mobility is partnering with state agencies in requesting vendors to come forward with nontraditional methods, including sending warnings to pedestrians via their smartphones.
Mobile devices are an enticing target for hackers seeking access to personal data, and malware designed to infiltrate them is growing at a quick pace, experts say. According to the latest threat assessment from Nokia, the number of infected smartphones nearly doubled in the first six months of the year, with Android the most vulnerable operating system.
The US Department of Transportation awarded more than $45 million to projects in Wyoming, New York City and Tampa, Fla., as part of the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program. DOT is starting the second phase of the program, which aims to test connected-car technology and determine if it can improve safety and boost economic productivity.