The financial crisis engulfing TalkTalk has taken a potentially more serious turn, with The Telegraph reporting that Whitehall officials are examining the possible national security implications of an insolvency.

According to the newspaper, officials responsible for critical national infrastructure are in regular contact with senior civil servants and telecoms regulators over measures to maintain TalkTalk services should the company enter administration.

The Telegraph, citing telecoms industry sources, reports that some networks used for national security purposes depend partly on TalkTalk systems and that disruption could affect services used by the Ministry of Defence.

Neither the Government nor TalkTalk has publicly confirmed that defence communications are at risk.

A government spokesperson told The Telegraph: “This is a commercial matter, and we do not comment on speculation.”

TalkTalk declined to comment.

Payments due

The development comes as advisers race to find a solution for TalkTalk’s consumer and wholesale businesses before significant payments fall due at the end of the month.

TalkTalk has debts reported to be around £1.4 billion and has required repeated injections of additional funding.

In March, the company announced £115 million of new facilities from its existing shareholders and lenders, comprising £65 million of term funding and a £50 million working-capital facility.

TalkTalk said the money would strengthen its working-capital position and confirmed that advisers had been appointed to explore the sale of parts of the group.

Those disposal plans have subsequently run into difficulties.

Talks to sell wholesale operation PlatformX Communications (PXC) to an Octopus-backed buyer for around £300 million have stalled, while negotiations over the consumer business have also struggled to produce an agreed deal.

Sky News reported on Thursday that Opus Broadband had returned with a revised offer of around £100 million for the consumer operation. This is substantially below the price previously under discussion and an offer which sources said was unlikely to be accepted by TalkTalk’s board.

Other restructuring options remain possible, including TalkTalk’s lenders taking control of parts of the business.

Openreach payment approaching

Money is owed to Openreach, whose network TalkTalk uses to deliver services to customers. Sky News reports that another significant payment to Openreach falls due at the end of September. 

The Telegraph reports that TalkTalk is already significantly in arrears with Openreach, although it says the BT-owned network operator is considered unlikely to take action that would deliberately trigger an insolvency because of the potential consequences for customers.

TalkTalk relies on wholesale infrastructure including Openreach and PXC to provide its retail voice and broadband services, a relationship TalkTalk itself described in evidence to Parliament earlier this year.

Vulnerable customers 

The Telegraph reports that more than 250,000 vulnerable households are among TalkTalk’s customer base, including people using personal alarm services and connected medical equipment.

It says Ofcom has sought assurances from prospective buyers that vulnerable customers would continue to be protected if a solvent rescue of the consumer business can be agreed.

Ofcom has confirmed that it is watching developments, telling The Telegraph:

“While we have no formal role in this process, we’re closely monitoring developments”.

One potential contingency reportedly under discussion is for another major operator to assume responsibility for customers if TalkTalk became insolvent.

However, there is no telecoms equivalent of the special administration arrangements available in sectors such as water, where essential services can be maintained during an insolvency.

TalkTalk continues to pursue a restructuring or sale rather than administration, and several possible outcomes remain under discussion.

But with the end-of-month deadline approaching, what began as a prolonged financial restructuring has developed into how essential communications services would be kept running if one of Britain’s largest broadband providers became insolvent.

Customers who need further assistance will still be able to speak to a member of the support team.

The voice agent was developed with conversational AI company Sierra. It is being trialled its performance and customer feedback is monitored.

Virgin Media O2 uses AI to assist its customer service staff through Lumi. This analyses conversations in real time and gives advisers prompts and information based on previous customer interactions.

The new voice agent puts AI directly in conversation with customers rather than keeping it behind the human adviser.

Chief operating officer Alan Stott said the technology was intended to support rather than replace employees.

“This is about supporting our people, not replacing them cBy using AI we can give customers faster support while freeing up our advisors to focus where their expertise and experience make the biggest difference.”

Virgin Media O2 says Ofcom data shows complaints have fallen over the past 18 months, with most now being resolved within 24 hours.

Sierra chief executive and co-founder Bret Taylor (below) said the operator was starting with a specific broadband support application to learn from the deployment before expanding its use.

If customers accept AI dealing with relatively straightforward faults, the same model could be extended across high-volume customer service interactions.

If AI can successfully deal with routine troubleshooting operators could reduce pressure on contact centres while allowing employees to concentrate on problems requiring specialist knowledge.

That is the more interesting message behind Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 platform, designed to turn earbuds, headphones and smart glasses into always-available interfaces for AI.

Qualcomm says Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2 has twice the AI capability of its predecessor while consuming up to 40 per cent less power and occupying up to 30 per cent less space.

The platform supports conventional earbuds and headphones as well as open-ear products, audio glasses and camera-equipped devices.

It also includes low-power Wi-Fi 6E, allowing a wearable to connect directly to cloud-based AI services rather than relying entirely on a Bluetooth connection to a smartphon

Qualcomm believes people will increasingly interact with artificial intelligence by talking and listening rather than opening an app and looking at a screen.

Instead of simply playing music and handling phone calls, future devices could translate conversations in real time, answer questions about a user’s surroundings, provide contextual information and act as a permanent voice interface to AI services.

Some could also incorporate cameras, allowing an AI assistant to understand what its wearer is looking at as well as what they are saying and hearing.

Qualcomm says the cameras envisaged for these products are intended to provide environmental context rather than simply take photographs.

Beyond the smartphone

This potentially shifts some everyday digital interaction away from the smartphone screen.

Smartphones are likely to remain the communications and computing hub behind many of these experiences but AI creates an opportunity for a new layer of devices that sit between the phone and the user.

An earbud that can connect to an AI service doesn’t necessarily require you to use a handset. Which explain why technology companies are increasingly interested in smart glasses, camera-equipped wearables and other so-called multimodal devices..

Battleground

For manufacturers, the opportunity is to create products whose capabilities improve after they have been sold.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound Apps & Agents platform is designed to allow manufacturers to connect devices to AI assistants, services and content that can be updated over time.

Wireless earbuds have competed on sound quality, battery life, noise cancellation, design and price. AI potentially gives another way to differentiate products and to build services and recurring revenues around the hardware.

Qualcomm is also supplying reference designs intended to reduce the time manufacturers need to develop and launch products.

At its Snapdragon Summit, audio manufacturer Cleer demonstrated an early concept combining sound, vision and AI using a Snapdragon Sound platform. Privacy, battery life, usefulness and price will ultimately determine whether intelligent wearables become mainstream products or another technology industry experiment.

The boffin bits

• Qualcomm aptX Lossless is designed to deliver rich, immersive audio quality for premium listening experiences.

• Qualcomm XPAN extends connectivity beyond traditional Bluetooth range, enabling more seamless and designed for uninterrupted audio experiences across devices.  

• AI-enhanced audio technologies, including new 5th Generation Qualcomm ANC, Qualcomm cVc  technology, and support for advanced multi-microphone architectures, are designed to improve noise cancellation, speech capture, and voice clarity for clearer conversations and more reliable interactions with AI assistants across a wide range of environments.

• Snapdragon Audio Sense Solution introduces innovative microphones with algorithms to deliver intelligent audio, helping devices hear voices and the world

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said searches were carried out in Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Cyprus as investigators examined a suspected scheme that allegedly allowed new handsets to be sold using VAT rules intended for second-hand goods.

Four suspects were arrested three in Bulgaria and one in Germany. Business premises and private homes connected with suspects and companies under investigation were searched.

A Frankfurt court also issued asset-freezing orders worth around €20.5 millionagainst two suspects and two companies.

According to the EPPO, bank accounts, mobile phones and luxury watches were among assets seized during the operation. It said €3.3 million had already been recovered from one of the companies under investigation.

Margin scheme allegedly used for new phones

At the centre of the investigation is the VAT margin scheme.

The scheme allows qualifying second-hand goods to be sold with VAT calculated on the dealer’s profit margin rather than the full selling price. It is designed to prevent VAT effectively being charged twice as goods pass through the resale market.

Prosecutors allege, however, that the system was improperly applied to new mobile phones.

According to the EPPO, the suspected operation used a cross-border trading structure involving companies in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Germany.

Investigators believe handsets were passed through a chain of companies before eventually being sold to consumers by German online retailers.

The transactions allegedly created the appearance that the devices qualified for margin-scheme treatment, meaning VAT was calculated on the retailer’s margin rather than the handset’s full value.

The EPPO alleges this enabled phones to be offered at prices below those of businesses applying normal VAT treatment and generated profits that were subsequently distributed through the network of companies.

Prosecutors estimate the resulting VAT loss at more than €15.7 million, although they stress that the final figure remains subject to the continuing investigation.

Cross-border investigation

The operation involved national tax and law-enforcement authorities in all four countries and was supported by Europol.

The EPPO said two principal suspects, described as a Bulgarian couple, are alleged to have organised and controlled companies used within the trading structure. No individuals or companies were named in the prosecutor’s announcement.

The case highlights the continuing scrutiny of VAT arrangements within Europe’s mobile phone supply chain.

It follows previous EPPO investigations involving handset trading. In January 2024, prosecutors carried out searches in six countries over a separate suspected €19 million VAT fraud involving second-hand phones imported from Hong Kong, the UAE and US.

Another investigation announced in December 2024 concerned an alleged €32 million cross-border VAT carousel fraud involving mobile phones, in which two suspects were arrested in Austria.

The latest investigation remains at the pre-trial stage. All those concerned are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in the competent German courts.

The 256GB iPhone 18 Pro Max went on sale today (18 September) for £1,299, but Envirofone is offering £800 for the same device in excellent condition £499, or 38 per cent, below its launch price.

The Envirofone Apple Depreciation Index uses original UK Apple launch prices including VAT and compares them with cash prices Envirofone was prepared to pay on 18 September for equivalent devices in excellent condition. Devices with trade-in values below £2 and models without a current trade-in price were excluded from its averages

The £1,199 iPhone 18 Pro fares only slightly better. Envirofone values the 256GB model at £750, representing an immediate £449 reduction and leaving it with 63 per cent of its retail price.

“£499 disappearing from the value of an iPhone on the day it launches sounds pretty brutal, but it shows just how quickly new tech depreciates. Most people think their phone starts losing serious value when the next model comes out. *In reality it starts from day one. If you’re planning to upgrade, the timing of when you sell your old device can make a surprisingly big difference”, said Envirofone CTO Sam Hargreaves

The iPhone Air is 2026’s fastest faller Since January the iPhone Air’s trade-in value has dropped by £85 (15 per cent). Over the same months the iPhone 17 Pro gained £20.

The figures form part of the September 2026 Envirofone Apple Depreciation Index, which matched the original UK launch prices of 177 Apple devices against current trade-in values. Prices were captured on 18 September and are based on devices in excellent condition. (Envirofone)

Half the value gone in two years

Envirofone’s analysis shows the biggest depreciation occurs during the first year of ownership.

Across the iPhones analysed, a handset bought for the equivalent of £1,000 is typically worth £580 after one year which is a 42 per cent reduction.

After two years its value falls to £494, dropping to £353 after three years and £214 after five years. In other words, the typical iPhone has lost around half its original value within two years and almost four-fifths after five. 

The figures also highlight substantial differences between individual models.

The iPhone Air has been the fastest-falling iPhone during 2026. Its trade-in value has fallen £85, or 15 per cent, since January and it is currently valued by Envirofone at £465 against its £999 launch price.

Over its first year, the Air has lost £534. By comparison, the more expensive iPhone 17 Pro has lost £454 since launch and its trade-in value has actually increased by £20 since January. 

Current Envirofone values put the iPhone 17 Pro at £645 against its £1,099 launch price, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is valued at £695 compared with an original £1,199 price.

iPads retain value better

The index suggests iPads have considerably stronger long-term residual values than iPhones.

Among Apple products between three-and-a-half and five-and-a-half years old, iPads retain a median 33 per cent of their launch price, followed by Macs at 28 per cent and Apple Watches at 23 per cent.

iPhones retain 22 per cent over the same period, while AirPods are at 15 per cent. 

AirPods Pro 3 recorded the steepest first-year fall of any Apple product tracked by the index, losing 77 per cent of its value.

Envirofone said the data illustrates how the cost of owning a device can differ substantially from its headline purchase price once residual value is taken into account.

For example, an iPhone 16 Pro launched at £999 and currently valued at £515 has effectively cost around £20 a month in depreciation over two years.

NB: Sam Hargreaves will be speaking about trade-in dynamics at Mobile News’ Circular Summit on November 17 at the Hilton London Bankside,  Secure your place.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/iphone-18-pro-max-drops-499-for-trade-in-on-launch-day-envirofone/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/telecoms-providers-get-green-light-to-share-data-in-fraud-fight/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/telecoms-providers-get-green-light-to-share-data-in-fraud-fight/#respond Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:48:03 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180866 Telecos have been given new guidance to make it easier share customer and network data to identify telephone-enabled fraud.

Fraud now accounts for 45 per cent of reported crime in the UK, according to government figures, with telecoms networks routinely exploited to distribute scam calls and text messages.

Comms Council UK (CCUK) has published the guidance following work with the Home Office and Ofcom and input from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

It addresses uncertainty among communications providers over when information about suspected fraudsters can legally be shared with other operators, law enforcement agencies, banks and fraud prevention organisations.

CCUK says that uncertainty has made some providers reluctant to exchange intelligence even where doing so could help prevent scams.

The guidance sets out what information can be shared, the circumstances in which sharing is lawful and the legal frameworks providers can rely on. These include UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Data Use and Access Act 2025.

It also includes a checklist and processes to help operators and their legal, compliance and data protection teams assess when information can be exchanged.

Networks exploited by fraudsters

Fraud operations can involve multiple networks, communications providers and financial institutions, making it difficult for any individual operator to see the complete chain.

CCUK says more effective sharing of network intelligence could allow suspicious activity to be stopped earlier.

The guidance includes examples where information exchanged between organisations has already resulted in enforcement action.

In one case, analysis of data from several telecoms companies identified an “SMS blaster” sending fraudulent messages on a large scale. The investigation resulted in an arrest, conviction and sentence.

In another case, telecoms data was passed to financial institutions to identify businesses potentially being targeted by fraudsters. Banks were then able to investigate and introduce additional fraud monitoring and controls.

ICO: data protection is not a barrier

ICO head of investigations Andy Curry said operators should not regard data protection legislation as preventing legitimate anti-fraud cooperation.

“Data protection law is not a barrier to sharing information to prevent fraud. In fact, it provides a clear and lawful framework for doing so responsibly,” he said.

“Telecoms providers of all sizes should have the confidence to share data lawfully with industry partners, law enforcement and fraud prevention organisations to protect their customers.”

Curry added that organisations acting in good faith and taking “reasonable and proportionate steps” to share information responsibly could expect the ICO’s support.

CCUK chair Tracey Wright said uncertainty over data protection had previously inhibited cooperation between providers.

“For too long, telecoms providers haven’t had the confidence to appropriately share information to disrupt fraud,” she said.

“This guidance, developed with Ofcom, the Home Office and the ICO, changes that.”

Ofcom strategy and delivery director Amy Jordan said cooperation between communications providers, regulators, law enforcement and anti-fraud organisations was increasingly important.

“Effective data sharing between communications providers and other organisations, including anti-fraud bodies, regulators and law enforcement agencies, is an important step in helping protect customers against criminals,” she said.

Fraud Minister Lord Hanson said the guidance would help deliver commitments contained in the Government’s Telecommunications Fraud Charter.

“Only by working in close collaboration between industry, government and law enforcement will we make it harder for fraudsters to operate and better protect the public,” he said.

The guidance forms part of commitments under the Government’s Fraud Strategy 2026–2029 and Telecommunications Fraud Charter and is available to communications providers across the UK.

Phone numbers, IP addresses and call recordings

Data already shared through existing anti-fraud schemes can include telephone numbers linked to fraudulent activity, call records used to identify potential victims, domains used for fraud and phishing, keywords and phrases used in malicious SMS and Calling Line Identification (CLI) data associated with mass-marketing fraud.

The guidance also identifies personal data that may be relevant to fraud investigations, including names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, email and IP addresses, online usernames, financial account and transaction information, facial images and call recordings or transcripts.

CCUK says personal data can be shared for fraud prevention where doing so is necessary and proportionate, with providers expected to share only the minimum amount of information required.

Because individual fraud cases vary, CCUK says there is no definitive list of information that can always be exchanged. Instead, the guidance points providers towards the relevant legislation and resources for determining what can lawfully be shared in a particular situation.

It also includes checklists and process flows intended to help operators and their legal, compliance and data protection teams assess common data-sharing scenarios.

The company currently processes more than 220,000 devices annually and says existing enterprise customers are extending their relationships with Bamboo into additional European territories.

Bamboo’s will focus particularly on Central Europe, Southern Europe and the Nordics, alongside expanding the services it provides in its existing markets.

The company already manages digital device claims across more than 10 European countries, with much of the operation previously supported by its UK teams and existing client services infrastructure.

Senior European appointments

Bamboo has appointed Marlon Flesner and János Gábor Forgó to its Client Services team to provide regional management.

Chief executive Juney Mistiki said: ““Marlon and János bring programme leadership, operational delivery and commercial experience across sectors that are central to our growth. Their appointments strengthen our Client Services team at an important point in our European expansion”.

Madrid-based Flesner will lead managed and integrated service programmes across Western Europe, while Budapest-based Forgó will cover Eastern Europe.

They join Sylvia Johnson, who leads Central Europe, giving Bamboo dedicated senior management across Western, Central and Eastern Europe.

Flesner joins after more than a decade at Chubb, where he was most recently Head of Cellphone and Gadgets and was responsible for handset and gadget insurance strategy across EMEA. He has also held senior positions at Telefónica and O2 Germany, including responsibility for launching and managing O2 Germany’s handset insurance programme.

Forgó was most recently B2B and B2C Programmes Leader for Europe at Servify and has previously held positions at BrightBox, Samsung Electronics and Vodafone.

.Current programmes include a global device protection provider integrated directly with Bamboo’s Optima claims management platform, a major UK telecommunications provider using Bamboo for device insurance, and another global protection and insurance provider moving towards full operational outsourcing.

Managed versus integrated services

Bamboo is positioning two different service models as part of its European expansion.

Its Integrated Services model allows clients to select individual elements of the device claims operation, including forecasting and procurement, repair and refurbishment, salvage, data governance, technology, analytics and fulfilment.

Customers can use their own operations or existing suppliers for other parts of the claims process.

Managed Services is an outsourced proposition, with Bamboo taking responsibility for the end-to-end device claims operation and managing third-party suppliers on the client’s behalf. The model provides one accountable provider, centralised reporting and billing and common service standards across different markets.

Bamboo says its approach is intended to address fragmentation in the European device protection market, where repair, refurbishment, logistics, fulfilment and technology can be handled by separate suppliers.

Its Optima platform manages and orchestrates device claims, while its Opus data intelligence platform combines programme and market data to provide customers with a consolidated view of performance.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/bamboo-connect-ramps-up-euro-expansion-as-device-volumes-hit-220k-a-year/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/analysis-iphone-duo-could-be-written-off-rather-than-repaired/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/analysis-iphone-duo-could-be-written-off-rather-than-repaired/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:04:10 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180836 ANALYSIS: Repair, insurance and refurbishment specialists have warned Apple’s £2,000 (base cost) Duo could be too expensive to fix and insure, with damaged devices potentially being written off

Apple’s £1,999 iPhone Duo could prove considerably more expensive to repair and insure than a conventional smartphone, industry specialists have warned. One Apple repair specialist reckons a screen could cost £800 to replace.

Apple’s first foldable uses a complex hinge containing more than 100 components and combines flexible display layers, ultra-thin glass and tightly engineered internal components.

Apple has yet to publish UK out-of-warranty repair prices for the Duo, leaving insurers, repairers and the secondary market assessing the likely economics of fixing damaged devices.

Repair specialist iFixit is already sceptical about how repairable Apple’s first foldable will prove. It described foldables as impressive feats of engineering, from ultra-thin glass and flexible OLED panels to the tiny springs inside their hinges, but added: “So far, though, they’re not repairable.”

Said iFiti: Introducing the duo on a beach is bold for a hinged device. Hopefully Apple has solved the problems other hinged devices have when dust, sand, etc. are present. hat’s why we’re not very optimistic about the iPhone Duo.

“Foldables are an impressive feat of engineering, every bit, from the super-thin glass to the flexible OLED to the tiny springs inside hinges. So far, though, they’re not repairable.  We’d love for Apple to prove us wrong. Until/unless they do, we’ll say the same thing we say every September: The most sustainable smartphone is the one you’ve already got. 

Foldables into mainstream

Quinton Goddard of device protection specialist SquareTrade said Apple’s arrival could significantly expand a market previously dominated by Asian manufacturers.But he warned that damaged foldables could initially be more likely to be written off than repaired.

“Chinese and Korean manufacturers brought foldables  to market years ago  but they’ve stayed a relatively niche part of the market. A mainstream, high-volume entrant has the potential to change that calculation.

“Greater volumes will bring new economic challenges for insurers and repairers. .The flexible display and hinge make up a large share of a foldable’s cost, which pushes up repair costs and, in turn, the cost of insuring them, though display durability has improved considerably in recent years, “We’d expect resale and refurbishment values to be high but volatile until consumer demand solidifies’, said Goddard.

“For consumers, that could translate into a device that’s expensive to protect and expensive to repair – and, until the circular ecosystem around foldables matures, one that’s more likely to be written off than repaired or traded in when damaged.”

1,999 gamble

 Envirofone CTO Sam Hargreaves reckons the Duo’s price raises the stakes throughout the handset’s lifecycle.

“A £1,999 foldable raises the stakes considerably for the entire device lifecycle. Flexible displays, complex hinges and tighter tolerances make repair and diagnostics more specialised and potentially more expensive.”

Hargreaves said insurers and refurbishers will need better information on failure rates, parts costs and residual values before devices can be handled economically at scale.

“The industry can adapt, but repairability and access to affordable parts will ultimately determine whether foldables become viable circular devices rather than expensive replacement propositions.”

Higher premiums and excesses

Darren Corney, Head of Contact Centre and Operations Claims Fulfilment at SPB , said insurers could handle foldables at scale but expects the £1,999 Duo to be regarded as a higher-risk device.

Flexible screens and hinges are considerably more expensive and complicated to repair than conventional smartphone displays, he said.

“The insurance industry can handle foldables at scale, but the £1,999 iPhone Duo is likely to be treated as a higher-risk device because flexible displays and hinge mechanisms are far more expensive and complex to repair than traditional smartphones.

“As a result, insurers may introduce higher premiums, larger excesses and dedicated coverage tiers for foldable devices, with particular focus on accidental damage claims, while repairability concerns could make some non-accredited repair specialists cautious about supporting the device.

“Apple’s official repair network and self-service repair programmes should help support repairs, but the real challenge for insurers will be the higher cost and complexity of screen and hinge replacements rather than theft or loss”.

Nikolajus Gavrilinas, is CEO and co-founder of Lithuanian femtosecond laser company LITILIT. He says the Duo’s hinge is only part of the challenge of making a reliable folding devcie.

“Foldable phones bring together several difficult materials and components that all need to hold up to repeated folding, from ultra-thin glass and flexible display layers to compact printed circuit boards, ceramics and semiconductor parts. Many components used in foldable phones and other consumer electronics need to be manufactured with extreme precision.

“The market for electronic components keeps pushing manufacturing closer to its limits. Even a tiny defect can turn into a crack that makes the whole component unusable”

Commented Likewize’s VP Financial Services Ian Pillinger:

“Foldables are an exciting evolution of the smartphone category. For protection, repair and pre-owned there will naturally be some adaption required, but these are exactly the kinds of changes our industry has successfully adapted to as technology has evolved

Ricky Panesar’s repair companny iCorrect has pioneered sustainable Apple repairs “fix what Apple won’t”. 

“It’s going to be a difficult device to repair compared to their other flagship models. Repair companies are repairing other fold models from other oems but not at scale.  It’ll be an expensive repair which I expect Apple to tightly control. It’ll be interesting to see the screen prices once they’re announced. My expectation is £800. I’m also expecting them to raise the AppleCare repair cost for the Duo. 

The industry’s concern is not whether it can repair and insure Apple’s new form factor, but at what cost  and whether repairing a badly damaged Duo will even make economic sense.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/analysis-iphone-duo-could-be-written-off-rather-than-repaired/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/phonecheck-secures-level-4-certification-for-device-data-erasure/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/phonecheck-secures-level-4-certification-for-device-data-erasure/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:06:15 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180830 Phonecheck has been awarded Level 4 Assurance certification for its device data-erasure technology after independent testing couldn’t recover information from devices that had been erased using Phonecheck software.

A factory reset or deletion of files does not necessarily mean that previously stored personal or corporate information is irretrievable. Independent recovery testing provides evidence that a sanitisation process has rendered data irretrievable before a device is refurbished, resold or otherwise returned to circulation.

The certification was carried out by ADISA, whose specialist research laboratory tests whether data claimed to have been erased can subsequently be recovered.

Level 4 certification means Phonecheck’s claims are backed by formal independent professional assessment and public certification.

ADISA used forensic tools and its own recovery techniques to attempt to recover user data following sanitisation.

The tested solution achieved a pass for device reuse.

Secondary-market risk

“Secure data erasure is an important issue for the growing secondary-device market because smartphones, tablets, laptops and other connected products frequently move from one owner to another,” said Phonecheck international president Harby Garchay.

“This distinction is particularly relevant to IT asset disposition companies, mobile operators, insurers, refurbishers, marketplaces and enterprise customers handling large volumes of used devices.”

The company has previously achieved ADISA Assurance Level 4 certification for other products and device types, including Apple Watch, where the certification records the sanitisation result as “REUSE – Pass”.

Phonecheck is one of a number of companies to have achieved certification but says it leads the market in global device volumes.

The latest certification adds independent evidence to Phonecheck’s security claims as the mobile industry’s circular economy expands and increasing numbers of devices are refurbished and returned to the secondary market.

Harby Garchay will join other industry leaders at the Mobile News Circular Summit at Hilton London Bankside on 17 November, examining how AI is changing the refurbishing landscape.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/uncategorised/article/phonecheck-secures-level-4-certification-for-device-data-erasure/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/apple-tears-up-the-rulebook-with-1999-iphone-duo-foldable/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/apple-tears-up-the-rulebook-with-1999-iphone-duo-foldable/#respond Wed, 09 Sep 2026 19:13:21 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=180820 Apple’s first foldable iPhone creates a new super-premium tier as analysts predict its arrival could kick-start a slowing foldable market 

Apple has finally entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, priced from £1,999 in the UK, in what analysts believe could provide the biggest boost yet to a category that has struggled to break into the mainstream.

The Duo was the centrepiece of Apple’s launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 and AirPods 5, as well as a broader expansion of Apple Intelligence and Siri capabilities.

But one of the biggest surprises was Apple’s pricing strategy.

The 256GB iPhone Duo costs £1,999, rising to £2,199 for 512GB, £2,599 for 1TB and £3,199 for 2TB.

Apple is also offering the entry-level model for £66.63 a month over 30 months at zero per cent interest, potentially making a £2,000 smartphone a more palatable monthly proposition.

Pre-orders open on 16 October, with the Duo going on sale on 23 October.

Enormous clout

Apple has watched Samsung, Huawei and other manufacturers develop the foldable category for years before making its move.

IDC Vice President, Devices, Francisco Jeronimo believes Apple’s arrival immediately changes the competitive landscape.

“Apple entered the foldable market and, in one keynote, set the price and the standard every rival will now be measured against.”

Rather than having to explain what a folding smartphone is, Apple can concentrate on persuading hundreds of millions of existing iPhone users why they should now buy one.

The launch also comes at an important time for the category. IDC figures show global foldable shipments fell 15 per cent year-on-year during the first half of 2026.

China will be a crucial battleground, with Huawei dominating the country’s foldable market.

Apple’s arrival gives premium Chinese smartphone buyers another major choice while bringing the company’s enormous retail, marketing, developer and services ecosystem into the category.

Gold mine

PP Foresight founder and analyst Paolo Pescatore said Apple’s arrival could provide a major boost to foldables.

“Apple has taken its time entering this category and is now seeking to redefine what consumers should expect from a smartphone rather than simply following rivals,” he said.

Pescatore believes higher pricing across Apple’s conventional premium iPhone range could actually work in the Duo’s favour by narrowing the perceived financial jump to an entirely new form factor.

“Apple will now flex its considerable marketing muscle to kick-start demand and give the foldable category a major boost,” he said.

“I fully expect it to be an instant hit, benefiting the wider market and developer community while putting rivals firmly on notice.”

Pescatore also highlighted Apple’s increasingly split iPhone launch cycle as strategically significant.

Spreading major launches across different points of the year gives Apple the opportunity to create new upgrade cycles and revenue rather than concentrating so much attention on a single annual launch.

“That is a significant strategic shift and potentially a gold mine for the business,” he said.

Two bites’

Uswitch mobiles expert Ernest Doku also highlighted the significance of Apple separating its iPhone launches.

“Apple is giving itself two bites of the mobile market from now on,” he said.

“For the first time, its autumn line-up arrived without a standard iPhone – tonight was reserved for its priciest, most feature-forward models, the 18 Pro, Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable, the iPhone Duo.”

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at £1,199 and Pro Max at £1,299, both £100 more than their predecessors.

Doku described the Duo as “Apple’s biggest gamble in years” but pointed out that buyers are being asked to accept some first-generation compromises for their £1,999.

The Duo uses Touch ID rather than Face ID and has a smaller battery than the Pro Max.

“You could get an iPhone 17, an iPad Air and an Apple Watch for less,” Doku said.

But he believes Apple may have concentrated its engineering effort on addressing one of the biggest complaints about existing foldables which is the display crease.

“Apple has clearly spent its first-gen effort on the bit that matters most for a fold: the hinge,” he said.

“Early looks suggest a genuinely crease-free display, the complaint that’s dogged every foldable phone to date, so if it holds up in daily use, that alone could be the difference-maker against Samsung.”

Black Friday

Apple’s decision not to replace the standard iPhone 17 this autumn could also have consequences for UK operators and retailers.

Reports indicate the standard iPhone 18 will arrive in the spring alongside the 18e and a second-generation Air.

That leaves the iPhone 17 as Apple’s mainstream model for another six months and Doku believes that could change the usual pattern of post-launch discounting.

“The iPhone 17 just became Apple’s mainstay for another six months, so unusually for a year-old iPhone, you’re not buying something about to be replaced, meaning we may not see networks compete hard on 17 deals this Black Friday,” he said.

Trade-in will also become increasingly important as buyers contemplate devices costing £2,000 and above.

Doku advises customers considering an upgrade to obtain a valuation before Duo pre-orders begin.

“Values run around 25 per cent higher in the weeks ahead of a launch, which puts more in your pocket towards the cost of an upgrade,” he said.

Apple plays both ends of the market

While pushing the iPhone into a new £1,999-plus category, Apple is simultaneously lowering the cost of entry to other parts of its ecosystem.

Pescatore said Apple’s continuing strength is its ability to combine hardware, software and services in a way few competitors can replicate at scale.

“Apple has once again shown why it should never be underestimated,” he said.

“The challenge now is to sustain this momentum, accelerate in areas such as AI and continue to give users compelling reasons to upgrade.”

Pescatore believes the strategy goes considerably further than this year’s upgrade cycle.

“AI and Siri are critical to Apple’s next chapter because the iPhone remains the main product through which most people experience the company every day,” he said.

Getting customers accustomed to using AI across existing products also gives Apple the opportunity to learn how people use the technology before introducing new devices.

Pescatore believes that provides a blueprint for future categories including Apple Glasses, wearables and devices for the home.

A camera that can prove a photograph is real

One potentially significant announcement received considerably less attention than the folding display.

Apple introduced Apple Reference Image, a standard designed to prove the authenticity of images captured using the new iPhone 18 Pro cameras and help identify whether pictures have subsequently been created or manipulated using AI. The feature will not initially be available in the EU or China.

As AI-generated images become increasingly difficult to distinguish from genuine photographs, establishing an image’s provenance could eventually prove more important than another increase in camera resolution.

Potential applications range from journalism and insurance claims to marketplaces, fraud prevention and evidence gathering.

IDC’s Francisco Jeronimo will join other industry leaders at the Mobile News Circular Summit at Hilton London Bankside on 17 November, examining how the industry can extract more value from mobile devices throughout their lifecycle.

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