AT&T Finally Offers Protection Against SIM Swap Attacks
AT&T now offers an Account Lock feature that can protect customers from attacks that intercept messages and security codes. It's a setting available for post- and pre-paid consumers in the myAT&T app. Business customers can access Account Lock from their account controls on the web site. Other carriers already offer similar tools.
Nothing Launches Flagship Phone (3)
Following the recent launch of several more affordable models, Nothing has finally launched its next flagship model, the Phone (3). It evolves Nothing's distinctive light-up "Glyph" system into a new "Glyph Matrix", a small, circular monochrome display on the back of the phone with 25 x 25 pixels. In tandem with a new shortcut button on the back of the phone, it performs a variety of functions and has its own SDK for third-party developers. The phone has four 50-megapixel cameras, including main, wide, periscope telephoto, and front. A unique red square on the back lights up when recording video. The OLED main display measures 6.67 inches and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. The phone has an IP68 rating for dust and water. It's powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip and available with either 12+256 GB or 16+512 GB of memory (RAM+storage). The phone supports fast charging up to 65W and two-way wireless charging. It has excellent support for T-Mobile's network and good support for AT&T's network. It ships with Android 15 and Nothing promises five years of OS updates + seven years of security updates. The Nothing Phone (3) ships July 15 starting at $799.
Bill Reintroduced to Open Up App Stores
A bipartisan group of US senators have reintroduced the Open App Markets Act, after it failed to reach a vote in 2022. The proposed law would require Apple and Google to allow "side-loading" (installing apps without using the app stores), allow third-party app stores, and allow apps to use alternate payment systems. It would also limit pricing restrictions and ensure developers can communicate alternate payment info to users. It would also mandate that users could set third-party apps as defaults for key functions, and mandate that users be able to hide or delete pre-installed apps, including those from Apple and Google. It would also prevent app store owners from giving their own apps any kind of advantage in their stores.
Trump Phone Won't be Made in USA After All
All previous mention of the Trump T1 phone being made in the US has been removed from the Trump Mobile web site. Some specs have also been changed.
Fairphone 6 Shrinks its Modular, Long-Lasting Phone
Fairphone has launched its sixth-generation phone designed to be user-serviceable, long-lasting, and eco-friendly. The Fairphone (Gen. 6) is more compact than past iterations, with a 6.31-inch display (120 Hz OLED and FHD+). The modular design has 12 different parts that can be easily replaced, including the battery (4,415 mAh), and a back-plate system supporting fully integrated accessories like a card wallet, finger loop, or lanyard. The phone comes with a 5-year warranty. The phone is "assembled in fair factories" and made with "more recycled and fair materials than ever before". The Fairphone 6 is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256 GB of storage (expandable). It has good support for US 5G and 4G networks. The main camera is 50 megapixel with a Sony Lytia 700C sensor and OIS, plus a 13 megapixel wide-angle camera. The phone also sports an IP55 rating for water, fingerprint reader, NFC, Bluetooth 5.4 LE, and Wi-Fi 6E. In the US, the Fairphone (Gen. 6) will initially be available exclusively from Murena, which loads their own /e/OS software on the device. (/e/OS is a "de-Googled" version of Android.) Murena promises five years of software updates for this phone. Murena is taking orders starting today at $899, shipping in August. It's available in white, black, or green.
Google Chrome Lets You Move Address Bar to Bottom
This new web browser option on Android follows a similar move by Apple with the Safari browser in iOS. The easiest way to change the location is to long-press on the address bar itself, then tap "Move address bar to bottom".
Apple Pushes Ad for its Newest Movie to iPhones
Many iPhone users today received a push notification from the Apple Wallet app promoting the new "F1" movie made by Apple. The unsolicited ad took the form of a $10 discount code for use with Fandango. A beta version of iOS includes a setting to opt out of "Offers & Promotions" from Apple Wallet, but the current stable version of iOS does not. Today's ad, and introduction of the new setting, both imply that Apple intends to send more notifications like this in the future.
Verizon Upgrades Its Customer Service
Verizon is launching a new effort to improve its customer service. First, for "complex issues", the company will now assign a dedicated "Customer Champion" to provide updates and ensure full resolution. Those updates can be provided however the customer prefers: "via the myVerizon app, text messages or call backs". Verizon says the goal is that "customers only need to call once, and we take it from there." Second, the company is extending its call center hours to midnight (previously ending at 7pm), and expanding its live chat support hours to 24/7.
T-Mobile Details Satellite Service
T-Mobile has released the final details of its T-Satellite service. The company also revealed a new award it received, and announced a new perk for customers. Following a successful beta test period that saw millions of messages sent, phase one of T-Satellite will launch July 23. This phase will offer SMS and MMS messaging in cellular "dead zones" across the US. T-Satellite will be included in T-Mobile's premium plan (Experience Beyond), and will be available to everyone else — including customers of other networks — for $10/month. Starting October 1, a second phase will introduce limited data service. Data will be available only via select apps that have been specifically optimized for satellite data using existing Google and Apple APIs. At launch, this will include popular messaging, mapping, weather, and other outdoor-focused services. (Including AccuWeather, AllTrails, "Apple", "Google", WhatsApp, and X.) Also starting October 1, T-Mobile will enable 911 texting via T-Satellite for everyone, including customers of other networks, regardless of whether they subscribe to T-Satellite. T-Satellite offers cellular coverage for existing phones in "dead zones" of the land-based network, using a new generation of SpaceX Starlink satellites. 657 of these cellular-capable satellites are already in orbit. T-Mobile also shared that Ookla has awarded T-Mobile the title of overall "Best Mobile Network" in the US, based on new crowd-sourced test data from the past six months. Finally, T-Mobile is adding a new perk for most T-Mobile customers: free DashPass from DoorDash.
T-Mobile Reshuffles Prepaid Plans
T-Mobile is reworking its prepaid plans, with a mix of positive and negative changes. All three new plans include a 5-year price guarantee (on data, voice, and text) and new perks like soccer and baseball TV subscriptions and free in-flight Wi-Fi on Delta. A new Starter plan replaces the old "10 GB" plan. While it remains $40/month for one line (with auto-pay, after first month, plus taxes & fees), the amount of high-speed data is upped to 15 GB. However, additional lines are now more expensive. For example, 4 lines were previously $100, but will be $130 with the new plan. The new Unlimited plan is now cheaper at $45 for one line (down from $50). While it previously included "unlimited" 5G data, customers using over 50 GB could see slow-downs "during congestion". Now, T-Mobile is making it clearer that both "Unlimited" plans simply include 50 GB of "premium high-speed" data. The new Unlimited Plus plan stays at $60/month for one line, but now includes voice and texting while roaming in Canada and Mexico. However, the allotment of high-speed mobile hotspot data has decreased from 10 GB to 5 GB. Other features of the new plans mirror the old plans. The new plans will be available next Tuesday, June 24.
TikTok Gets Another Temporary Lifeline in US
President Trump has announced a new 90-day pause in the enforcement of the law that forces TikTok to sell its US operations, or be banned.
Trump Org. Launches Trump Mobile
The Trump family has launched Trump Mobile, a new MVNO offering "5G service through all three major cellular carriers". The prepaid service has no contracts and no credit check. For $47.45 per month, the service offers "unlimited data", although only the first 20 GB is high-speed data. It also offers unlimited talk and text and "free international calling to more than 100 countries". The international-calling page of the Trump Mobile web site promises "you get competitive international rates with full transparency. You only pay for what you use — no hidden fees or confusing charges", yet does not list any rates. It also shows 185 countries that allow "unlimited" calling, but another 392 countries with capped maximum minutes (presumably per month), ranging from 5 to 125 minutes. Many islands (Cuba, Haiti, Bahamas) and countries in Africa are limited to 30 minutes or less. Although the web site emphasizes enabling "service members and their loved ones to stay connected", calling to Qatar is capped at 40 minutes, even though Qatar hosts the US' largest military base in the middle east with over 11,000 service members. The service plan also includes roadside assistance, telehealth services, and device protection, all provided by third-party partners. The company also promises 24/7, US-based customer service. The service is currently bring-your-own-device (BYOD), but the company also announced plans for a gold "T1 Phone" for $499, coming in September. It has a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, 5,000 mAh battery, 20W fast charging, 50 megapixel camera, 12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage, Android 15, fingerprint reader, and 3.5mm headset jack. The press release claims the phone is "designed and built in the United States".
Google Kills Instant Apps
Google is shutting down an Android feature that let users quickly download and use a temporary "mini" version of an app, instead of installing the full app. Instant Apps were not popular with developers, but were useful for game trials or one-time transactions. Google first announced Instant Apps in 2016 and launched it to developers in 2017. Google's newest developer tools include a warning that "Instant Apps support will be removed by Google Play in December 2025".
The Nothing Phone (3) Will Come to US
Nothing has previously made a series of unique phones but shied away from the US market in terms of network support, sales channels, and support. The Phone (3) will be announced July 1 and sold in the US via Amazon and Nothing's web site.
Anker Recalls Popular Power Bank Over Fire Risk
Anker has recalled its PowerCore 10000 power bank (model A1263), which was sold between June 2016 and December 2022 in the United States. Anker has received 19 reports of fires and explosions with this model. The power bank was popular, selling over 1 million units. Owners should immediately stop using the product. Anker is offering affected customers a free replacement power bank (an equivalent newer model) or a $30 gift card for anker.com (the recalled unit sold for about $27). Anker has set up an online form to check for eligibility (by serial number) and submit a claim that includes photos of the recalled power bank.
Verizon Expands Its Dedicated 5G for First Responders
Verizon launched its "Frontline Network Slice" in April in 30 major markets, giving first responders guaranteed network access. Now it expands nationwide to all 50 major markets where Verizon offers 5G Ultra Wideband.
Google Makes Open-Source Android Development More Difficult
Google is taking away a key resource that made it easier for third parties to develop non-Google versions of the Android OS for smartphones. Specifically, Google will no longer publish an "example" version of AOSP (Android Open Source Project) that works as-is on its Pixel phones. Instead, Google will only publish a generic version of AOSP that, as published, only works on a generic virtual device called "Cuttlefish". This means developers working with AOSP no longer have a simple starting point that works on physical hardware. Going forward, developers will need to do significant work just to get AOSP running on any real-world device, before working on whatever they want to customize about the OS. Google's move may be particularly painful for the developers of alternative OSes (based on AOSP) that run on Pixel phones, such as LineageOS, GrapheneOS, and CalyxOS.
Apple Expands Child Safety Protections and Options for Parents
Apple today announced new features for its child-safety and parental controls features in its platforms, including iOS for iPhones. Apple will be expanding its number of age range categories to include under-13, 13+, 16+, and 18+. Apps with an overall rating exceeding a child account's age range will not be featured in the App Store, although they can still be searched, and parents can grant an exception to download. Further, a new Declared Age Range API will let developers query the age range — but not sensitive info like precise age or birth date — to tailor in-app content to be age-appropriate. App Store listings will now show whether an app makes use of this new API, and flag apps that allow messaging or show user-generated content. Apple is expanding its Communication Safety technology to FaceTime and Shared Albums in Photos, so that any nudity detected will automatically be blurred in those apps when using a Child Account. Apple is also changing the process of creating Child Accounts to ensure they are more restricted by default. Controls for parents are also being streamlined in some areas, and expanded with more options in other areas.
