Stop phone scammers in their tracks with FONES, an anti-robocalling solution

Why it matters to you

Annoying robocallers may be persistent, but First Orion’s technology is advanced enough to stop them in their tracks.

There’s nothing more annoying than unsolicited phone calls from companies, nonprofits, and folks you’ve never heard of. But thanks to the ubiquity of robocalling, or tech that dials numbers automatically, they’re an increasingly common occurrence. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission received 5.2 million complaints about robocalls in 2016, a 30 percent increase from the same period a year earlier. But Little Rock, Arkansas-based First Orion, an enterprise company that provides data and phone call solutions to mobile carriers, has a fix for this growing problem: First Orion Network Enterprise Solutions (FONES).

More: Robokiller app takes top prize in $25,000 anti-robocall contest

That’s a mouthful, but FONES, at its core, makes it easier for carriers to protect subscribers from malicious callers. On the consumer side of the equation, it lets the subscribers of those carriers block any number from any device.

FONES filters numbers intelligently by tapping technologies like anonymous aggregation and network traffic analysis. And it analyzes billions of events in real time.

“This year, consumers will unnecessarily receive over 9 billion calls from known scammers and another 50 billion nuisance calls,” Jeff Stalnaker, president of First Orion, said. “Carriers can now prevent these unwanted calls from ever reaching their customers. FONES provides the foundation for a comprehensive solution for the protection that consumers deserve, with flexibility to meet carrier requirements and the ability to engage with First Orion in an efficient and easy way.”

The debut of FONES come at a time when fraudulent calls are on the rise. According to the FTC, robocalls cost phone customers $350 million annually. In response, the federal government has imposed more than $1.2 billion in fines on telemarketers. The Federal Communications Commission authorized telecommunications companies to block fraud and spam calls last year, and in 2013 hosted a contest to encourage private industry to come up with ways to stop robocalls.

More: The FCC wants robocall-blocking technology, and it wants it yesterday

Telecoms have started to do their part, too. Time Warner Cable makes it easy for its customers to sign up for Nomorobo, a service that works on internet-based phone lines to block robocalls. In September, Sprint expanded a partnership with Cequint to develop “enhanced caller ID solutions” that would be used to prevent spam calls from reaching customers. And in August, the four major carriers in the United States joined forces with Apple, Comcast, Ericsson, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, and others to establish a “robocall strike force.”

Samsung may be working on a slide-out, expandable phone

Why it matters to you

Foldable phones are all the rage again, but now, Samsung has another idea for an expandable phone — one with a slide-out display.

We’ve already told you about Samsung’s patent for a bendable display that could herald a new generation of flip phones, but now, it looks as though the South Korean phone maker has something else up its sleeve as well. As per information discovered by Patently Mobile, Samsung has yet another phone patent “with an expandable slide-out display so that watching TV shows, movies, and playing games could be done in wide-screen mode.”

Sure, this technically isn’t a folding phone, but it’s certainly an expandable one. By equipping a handset with a display that slides out to give you more surface area, Samsung is really catering to its users who use their mobile devices for watching videos, playing games, and other activities that require a larger screen. Of course, if you’re just sending a text or on a phone call, you don’t need a huge handset, which is why Samsung would allow you to slide part of the display back in for more basic functions.

More: A foldable iPhone? Patent shows Apple is at least exploring the idea

While nothing’s official yet (remember that a patent doesn’t necessarily guarantee any manufacturing), it’s certainly interesting to see Samsung’s creativity at work. Unfortunately, we don’t know a ton about the prospective sliding phone, as design patents published by the U.S. or Foreign Patent and Trademark Offices only show off patent figures, rather than relevant information about the design itself.

All the same, it’s an exciting time for phone enthusiasts, who may soon find themselves with many more options that the standard one-screen design we’ve been stuck with for years on end. Samsung is also slated to show off a prototype of its foldable phone at Mobile World Congress 2017, so be sure to keep an eye out for that.

The Edge card consolidates all of your credit, debit, and loyalty cards in one

Why it matters to you

Carrying around a handful of credit and debit cards is majorly annoying. The Edge card consolidates all of those in one.

Carrying around a wallet overflowing with credit cards, debit cards, and gift cards you keep forgetting to use can be annoying. But EDGE Mobile Payments, a Santa Cruz-based technology startup, might just have the solution.

The Edge card, which the company announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, allows users to store multiple payment methods in a single card. But it’s not your average magnetic debit card: It features an edge-to-edge touchscreen, biometric authentication sensors, and management features.

More: Zwipe and MasterCard made a credit card with a fingerprint sensor

The Edge card’s core promise is its broad point-of-sales compatibility as per POSQuote.Com. It’ll work not only with legacy point-of-sale terminals that use a magnetic reader, but also with “touch to pay” terminals that allow you to complete payments with a compatible phone, smartwatch, or card. And it’s fully compatible with EMV, the so-called chip-and-PIN technology that uses a chip to encrypt card information as it’s transferred.

The Edge’s smarts don’t stop there. The card will ship with a companion app, Card Assistant, that’ll provide digital receipt storage, account optimization, and suggestions about which card to use based on FICO credit store and interest rates.

The Edge card’s in the prototype phase, but Edge Mobile Payments CEO Peter Garrett no stranger to the industry. He holds patents on flash drives and helped to develop the ELuminx, the first backlit illuminated keyboard. “We are currently developing the most sophisticated and user-friendly smart payment card yet,” Garrett said in a press release. “The Edge card is an integrated solution that is designed to be the bridge between the well-worn paths of existing swipe-and-pay cards and the mobile wallets of the future.”

More: Here are all the places that support Apple Pay

Edge isn’t the first to take a stab at a consolidating credit card. The Coin card boasted an E-Ink display, a push button that switches between cards, and NFC that’s compatible with contactless terminals. Swype is a sleek metal card with a black-and-white display and an EMV chip that predicts what credit card you’re going to use based on the time of day and your location. And the forthcoming Plastc sports a black-and-white screen that shows your ID, plus a re-writeable NFC/RFID technology that allows it to act as an RFID device.

But those competitors have been plagued with technical — and fiscal — difficulties. The Swype and Coin have yet to launch. Stratos, an all-in-one electronic credit card with a $95 a year subscription fee, shut down after just six months. And Coin stopped selling cards after it was acquired by Fitbit last year.

Edge certainly has its work cut out for it. It is scheduled to be released later this year.

Nokia has confidence its VR cameras, smartphones, 5G tech will drive growth

Why it matters to you

Nokia’s new smartphones, virtual reality platform, and 5G technologies have the potential to transform industries.

Nokia’s back. At the Finnish company’s analyst and press event at Mobile World Congress on Sunday, it announced a road map that places particular emphasis on high-speed wireless, consumer smartphones, and professional-grade virtual reality equipment.

Company President Rajeev Suri said Nokia’s biggest growth potential lies in its ability to “expand, build, and create.” He touted its strength in licensing, highlighting its Ozo virtual reality platform and close working relationship with smartphone maker HMD Global. “Nokia is a fundamentally different company than it was one year ago,” Suri said.

More: The New Nokia 3310 will feature swappable face plates, according to new leak

Suri announced that Nokia would partner with Verizon and Intel to deploy 5G-enabled “next-generation video and entertainment services.” It’s set to launch in Dallas later this year, and expand to other U.S. markets by the end of 2017.

Withings Brush

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The U.S.-based 5G build-out dovetails with the company’s broader network efforts. Xioami has contracted Nokia to build a high-speed fiber-optic network that will interconnect the Chinese company’s data network, and it’s working with a Portuguese railway on a failback network. It’s also recruiting General Electric and Qualcomm to deploy a private LTE network “customized for the industrial Internet of Things.”

Nokia has confidence its VR cameras, smartphones, 5G tech will drive growth

Why it matters to you

Nokia’s new smartphones, virtual reality platform, and 5G technologies have the potential to transform industries.

Nokia’s back. At the Finnish company’s analyst and press event at Mobile World Congress on Sunday, it announced a road map that places particular emphasis on high-speed wireless, consumer smartphones, and professional-grade virtual reality equipment.

Company President Rajeev Suri said Nokia’s biggest growth potential lies in its ability to “expand, build, and create.” He touted its strength in licensing, highlighting its Ozo virtual reality platform and close working relationship with smartphone maker HMD Global. “Nokia is a fundamentally different company than it was one year ago,” Suri said.

More: The New Nokia 3310 will feature swappable face plates, according to new leak

Suri announced that Nokia would partner with Verizon and Intel to deploy 5G-enabled “next-generation video and entertainment services.” It’s set to launch in Dallas later this year, and expand to other U.S. markets by the end of 2017.

Withings Brush

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The U.S.-based 5G build-out dovetails with the company’s broader network efforts. Xioami has contracted Nokia to build a high-speed fiber-optic network that will interconnect the Chinese company’s data network, and it’s working with a Portuguese railway on a failback network. It’s also recruiting General Electric and Qualcomm to deploy a private LTE network “customized for the industrial Internet of Things.”

Nokia to rebrand Withings portfolio, redesign HealthMate app

Why it matters to you

Withings had some name-brand recognition for its solid connected health devices. You’ll now have to remember them as Nokia products.

Nokia acquired health-and-fitness technology company Withings last year, and the company didn’t make a final decision on which brand name it would use for the Withings product line until now. All existing and future Withings products will be sold under the Nokia brand, starting this summer.

This applies to Withings’ smart scales, trackers, blood pressure monitors, thermometers, home cameras, and more. Withings’ HealthMate companion application for a lot of these products is also getting a redesign, and it will be two words now: Health Mate.

More: BlackBerry sues Nokia, alleging networking patent infringement

Nokia said the redesign of the app, which collects data from your connected Withings devices, makes it easier to “add devices, share progress with family members,” and that the app will introduce coaching programs as well.

“The coaching programs will take users on an eight-week journey to achieve a health goal along with personalized experiences to better manage their health and wellbeing,” the company said.

Nokia’s also unveiling a Patient Care Platform for patients and medical professionals that’s compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This allows doctors to remotely monitor those of their patients who use smart health devices. The focus for the platform seems to be preventing and managing chronic conditions, and it’s meant to save patients the money they’d spend making a potentially unnecessary trip to the hospital.

More: Need a doctor? Just talk to Alexa and its new HealthTap integration

The Patient Care Platform is currently being used by the U.K.’s National Health Service in a 69,000-person study. The newly-branded connected devices, one of which will be a connected scale, will be available early this summer through Nokia’s website and various retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target.

The redesigned Health Mate app will launch around the same time.

Picture perfection? Qualcomm says we’ll soon have phones with 6K, 8K displays

Why it matters to you

If you’re a VR enthusiast, you know how frustrating low resolution can be for your experience. But soon, Qualcomm believes, you’ll be experiencing 6K and 8K resolutions on your phone.

You’ll soon see the world differently. No, it won’t be a matter of perspective — it’ll be because of your phone screen. According to Qualcomm, not only are the smartphones of the future going to be running on 5G networks, but they’ll also feature displays that put even today’s 4K TVs to shame.

“We’ll see 6K, 8K and beyond” from future smartphone screen resolutions, Tim Leland, Qualcomm’s vice president of product management, told TechRadar. “It’s going to keep going.”

More: This 360 camera may not be a beauty, but it is a ‘Beast’ with 6K footage

Considering that most of today’s phones have 2K screens at best (sorry, iPhone owners, you’re doing even worse with just a 1080p display), Leland believes that will soon change. “It’s going to levels I wouldn’t have believed a few years ago,” he said. “These are all steps toward not even photo realism, but optical nerve realism. It won’t be just in terms of pixels per inch, it’ll also be the width of the color gamut, color accuracy and the brightness of the display.”

So what’s the advantage of having such a high-resolution display? Well, if the future really does lie in virtual reality, then you’ll definitely need more pixels.  VR enthusiasts often complain about the “screen door effect” in which you can actually identify individual pixels because of the relatively low resolution and the nearness of the pixels to your eyes, a 6K or 8K display could eliminate this problem altogether. And once you’ve gone high resolution, you’ll never go back, Leland said.

“Before we saw HD TVs, we thought, ‘Who needs it? C’mon, I can see my TV fine.’ Go back. Go back and try to watch some sporting event from the late 90s. It’s almost unwatchable,” he challenged.

But even with this “need,” there will definitely be obstacles to getting consumers on board. For one, phones with these kind of displays will probably have not-so-great battery life — that’s already been a problem for phones that moved on from 1080p to 2K displays. A phone with such high resolution also isn’t going to come all that cheap, which could be a pretty major concern for consumers.

Huawei P10 will arrive on all four major UK networks

EE, Vodafone, O2, Three will range the Huawei P10, and it’ll also be offered through independent retail giant Carphone Warehouse, exec tells AC.

Last year’s Huawei P9 was a breakthrough success for the Chinese manufacturer, with the 2016 flagship being picked up by all four major UK networks and major high street player Carphone Warehouse. This broad carrier coverage is set to continue with the P10, AC can confirm.

In an exclusive interview ahead of today’s announcement, Bruce Lee, Huawei’s Vice President of Handsets Product Line, revealed that all four operators will also range the P10, and that Carphone will also pick up the handset. Lee wouldn’t comment on availability for the larger, higher-specced P10 Plus, but promised “some surprises, maybe” when that model arrives in the UK.

The Huawei P9 passed 10 million units sold by the end of 2016, and the fact that all the major networks are carrying its successor is an obvious indicator that they’re happy with the performance of the P9. Huawei will face strong competition in a couple of months, with the expected arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S8, however a place on the store shelves of every major high street player is a good start.

More: Huawei P10 hands-on

Huawei’s new P10 flagships are thin, powerful and insanely colorful

New flagship phones officially unveiled in Barcelona.

At its press conference in Barcelona, Spain ahead of Mobile World Congress 2017, Huawei CEO Richard Yu has unveiled the company’s latest flagship phones for 2017, the P10 and P10 Plus. The new phones build on the design language of last year’s slim, highly-specced Huawei P9, with internals based on the Mate 9’s Kirin 960 platform. Like last year we’re looking at two different display sizes — 5.1 inches at 1080p for the P10, 5.5 inches at Quad HD resolution for the P10 Plus.

The P10 also packs 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage and the same dual-camera 12/20-megapixel array as the Mate 9, behind f/2.2 lenses. And that gets bumped up to 6GB/128GB for the P10 Plus, with improved optics for the cameras in the form of a significantly upgraded f/1.8 lens.

Huawei’s focusing on portrait and selfie photography in its new phones, with an 8-megapixel front-facer behind an f/1.9 lens, and a wide variety of new photographic features for the rear camera that can intelligently enhance lighting in portraits based on facial mapping.

Meanwhile on the software side, the P10 series debuts with Android 7.0 Nougat and the new EMUI 5.1 software layer. Huawei says it’s tuned up Android’s kernel, memory management, garbage collection and touch responsiveness to make apps load up to 30 percent faster than before. And that’s in addition to the machine learning techniques it was using in EMUI 5 to prioritize apps depending on their performance needs.

Huawei also unveiled a new strategic partnership in the P10, this time with GoPro, which powers a new video highlights feature in the stock Gallery app.

Both devices come in a dizzying array of colors in partnership with Pantone — you can expect the phones in three finishes, too. The more traditional blue and gold versions will be available in the Hyper Diamond-Cut finish, while the more unorthodox and colorful green, along with rose gold, silver, black and gold models will be done in a “sandblast” finish. A Ceramic White version will be done in a “high gloss” finish.

The Huawei P10 will be available globally, but won’t be sold in the United States. And in the UK, it’ll land on all four major networks. It’ll start at €649 for the traditional P10, rising to €699 for the P10 Plus. The higher-specced version with 6GB of RAM will go for €799 when it’s released, too, later this quarter.

Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic announced at MWC 2017, starting at €329 in March

One model has turned into two for 2017.

The Huawei Watch was one of a few bright spots in the Android Wear world, often being referred to as the top watch to get through 2016. As a follow-up, Huawei is replacing it for 2017 with two models — the Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic.

Following the launch of the LG Watch Style and Watch Sport, Huawei’s new models are running Android Wear 2.0 and offer up many of the same features as LG’s including 4G connectivity, GPS, NFC and new processors.Both watch styles have a 1.2-inch 390×390 display, 420mAh battery, GPS, heart rate sensor, 4GB of storage and 768MB of RAM.

The standard Huawei Watch 2 is more of a sporty version, with a rubberized band and bigger bezel around the screen. It’s available in a variety of colors, including a striking bright orange, and has a 4G-capable version alongside the standard version that has just Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The Watch 2 Classic is surprisingly different in its overall design from the original Huawei Watch. Gone are the sleek and smooth edges, replaced with more of a traditional watch look that honestly reminds us of LG’s last generation of smartwatches.

The Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic are going to be available starting in March for €329, with Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany and China being the first markets. The U.S., UK, Russia and Australia will get on board starting in April.

Interestingly, Huawei also announced a Porsche Design Huawei Smartwatch, which of course builds on the Porsche Design partnership most recently shown off with the Mate 9. Though it isn’t clear if this smartwatch is running Android Wear or actually related to the other two Huawei Watch 2s.

Press release:

The Complete Smart Fitness Watch Arrives with HUAWEI WATCH 2

[Barcelona, 26 February, 2017] Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) today defined a new category of wearable technology with the HUAWEI WATCH 2. Using the latest research result and developments from technology innovator Huawei, the watch combines the connectivity of a smartphone, the smarter living applications of a premium smartwatch and the detailed performance coaching and tracking of a leading sports tracking device, all in the form of a stylish classical wristwatch.

HUAWEI WATCH 2 inherits the classic design of the original HUAWEI WATCH while introducing new innovations in every category to better empower users’ spirit of exploration and help them enjoy an active lifestyle.

The watch will go on sale in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany and China this March, priced from 329 € depending on the design and features being chosen. It will become available in additional countries including the US, the UK, Russia and Australia from April. For full details on release schedule see notes to editors below.

In a world where technology has become more and more integrated into our lives, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 is a product for those who yearn for the freedom to explore while staying connected, without having to be glued to a smartphone. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 2100 processor HUAWEI WATCH 2 (4G supported version) has independent connectivity, allowing users to send messages or make calls independently of a mobile phone. It also features compatibility for the latest smart living applications. Featuring support for cellular networks and running on the new Android WearTM 2.0 ensures connectivity for both AndroidTM and iOS users and means the HUAWEI WATCH 2 embodies the spirit of openness and exploration for all.

Independent connectivity to suit your exploration

With HUAWEI WATCH 2 (4G supported version), users can leave their mobile phone at home and go running, cycling or just exploring while staying connected. Thanks to independent mobile connectivity and a built in GPS chip, users can respond to calls and text messages, use independent apps like Uber, Foursquare and Telegram. The innovative design means that this extra connectivity comes with no sacrifice on quality. VoLTE support and dual-mic noise elimination help ensure a stable and clear telephone experience while the integration of the antennae on the upper watch case for dual 4G, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC in the device significantly strengthens connectivity, allowing HUAWEI WATCH 2 to stay compact while ensuring good signal reception.

Besides the SIM version working with mobile network carriers worldwide, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 also provides an eSIM version (available to limited countries).

What’s more, some carriers feature a one-number-multi-SIM service. There’s no need for a new number, as the watch and your mobile phone can share the same number. Going far beyond being just a partner to a smartphone, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 (4G supported version) provides the flexible connectivity required in a modern active life and gets everything controlled by one hand.

The complete health and exercise partner

HUAWEI WATCH 2 is also a high specification fitness device that uses multiple sensors with advanced algorithms to provide fitness solutions and make working out more efficient and effective. Built-in smart sensors collect comprehensive data on user activity, including distance, speed, steps, heart rate, heart rate range, calories, gait, route and more.

With one click on the crown HUAWEI WATCH 2 opens the workout App to start training in an instant. Quick start running modes “fat-burning run” and “cardio run” allow runners to start quickly and the watch will guide your speed to stay in the correct heart rate zone. Running with HUAWEI WATCH 2 enables you to get real time guidance including notifications on distance, target completion status and racing heart warning and based on calculated workout plans, HUAWEI WATCH 2 can also dynamically notify you to either accelerate or decelerate to guide you through every stage of your run. With the support of HUAWEI WATCH 2’s GPS and heart rate detection system, HUAWEI WATCH 2 measures your VO2max after each run. After a valid run the watch automatically generates a report that advises on recovery time and training effects.

Other supporting elements include the built in GPS that tracks your exercise route. HUAWEI WATCH 2 also allows you to add music to your workout through the Google PlayTM Music app. Users can download songs, stream music and access their playlists.

Beyond just exercise, HUAWEI WATCH 2 promotes healthy living all day. The Daily Tracking App accurately tracks users’ daily steps, record time taken for medium to high intensity exercises, and detect the number of times you stand up after long sedentary periods. All this information is reported via progress bars to encourage a healthier and more active life. Continuous heart rate monitoring tracks your heart rate in the background and reports your heart rate of the last six hours in a curved line. HUAWEI WATCH 2 also measures your Resting Heart Rate, which is recorded in the activity monitor app.

Chronograph watch design

The HUAWEI WATCH 2 has a classical wristwatch design that integrates its smart features and sport functions while maintaining a stylish look. Made from sophisticated materials, a dual crown design delivers a premium feel. While honouring the classics, the watch is adaptable to the wearer’s personality, with both classical and sporty design options. The high-definition display is customisable with multiple face designs, allowing users quick access to their favourite and most frequently used apps. In addition to a chronograph design, HUAWEI WATCH 2 features a ceramic bezel that provides a fine quality while offering a comfortable wearing experience.
The watch is also designed for comfort and fit during exercise, meaning it is curved to sit perfectly against the wrist. It is smaller and more compact than the previous generation HUAWEI Watch with its parts on one side accounting for 88% of the total area of the watch.

A smarter experience

With a new smart OS and intuitive controls, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 is a personal assistant that brings convenience without infringing on daily life. Running on the new Android Wear 2.0, the on-watch Google Play Store allows both iOS and Android users to benefit from a vast library of compatible applications. Touch control, intelligent speech recognition and voice instructions enable users to quickly interact with the HUAWEI WATCH 2 and reply to complex messages. The Android PayTM* app and NFC technology allows for convenient and secure payments. The battery is smarter too thanks to an optimized battery with greater density and longer life. The battery lasts for up to two days with regular use, up to 10 hours in “training mode” and up to three weeks in “watch mode”.

Porsche Design HUAWEI Smartwatch

Technology innovator Huawei and premium lifestyle brand Porsche Design extend their partnership with the announcement of the new Porsche Design HUAWEI Smartwatch. Complementing the Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 9, which was launched in November 2016, the product further enriches the user experience. Again, the collaboration brings together the latest innovations in technology with the most functional design, creating an equilibrium of aesthetics and function. It combines the latest activity tracking and fitness management functions with the connectivity and smart technology of a leading smart wearable device. For those who demand style and substance, the Porsche Design HUAWEI Smartwatch delivers professional standard fitness tracking, the latest smart functions and sophisticated design – all from the wrist.

The innovative smart watch is the first ever to be created by Porsche Design and part of a continuous roll out of smart devices, which will be released in the upcoming months.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group said of the launch: “In today’s fragmented information age, the real function of technology is to provide convenience and connectivity without intruding on your daily life. We wanted to make a product that suits those individuals who wish to explore the limits of their own expression, while still being bound by a need to stay connected. With this product there is no need to stay glued to your smartphone. The independent connectivity and smart applications that can be used from your wrist mean you can go for a run or a cycle and leave your phone behind with the freedom of knowing you won’t miss an important message.

Health and wellbeing are vital for the modern consumer, but traditional monitoring devices are overly complicated and often get used for a while and then cast aside. We wanted to bring in all the most up to date monitoring technology into a stylish and smart package, making this the tool that doesn’t just keep you healthy, it is also stylish and helps make your everyday life easier.”