BT and EE merger? It’s good to talk

If you’ve missed the news then let us enlighten you. BT has recently been in talks with EE regarding an apparent merger, and now they’ve confirmed that they’ve bid a whopping £12.5 billion. 

Mobile services 

BT are clearly keen to expand their mobile service offering and there were even rumours at the start of 2014 about talks with O2. But what does a merger with EE actually mean? 

Well, by purchasing a big mobile telecom like EE they will be able to offer more mobile services. Quad-play is the package, which will see home phone, broadband, TV AND mobile contracts all in one. Massive savings for the customer and a bigger piece of the market for BT. 

What does this mean for BT? 

BT will officially become the largest service provider in the UK, owning 37.6% of home phone traffic, and with a potential to own 33.8% of what EE currently control within the mobile arena. Does this give BT an unfair advantage? 

What does it mean for customers? 

Well, chances are customer service could get worse.  With the call handlers already struggling with the influx of calls, answering calls on time, and getting the right call to the right person, more calls could certainly be an issue.  With the arrival of BT Sport, the company have already admitted to struggling with the amount of subscribers and providing the right level of customer service. Could this mean an even bigger struggle? 

Also, how will this affect prices? Spending £12.5 billion on a new area of business is a vast sum of money, money which will have to come from somewhere. Customers’ may see an increase in their bill. But, if you purchase the whole quad-play package it could mean bigger savings for you overall. However, it could also make it harder to switch service providers. 

But, a lot of this is just pure speculation from the media, at present. The bid has been made and accepted, but it still needs approval. Will other companies put up a fight and stop BT gaining too much of the market? Watch this space. 

Is wearable technology the latest fashion?

If you’re an Apple fan then you’ll probably have the latest version of the iPhone, you've probably stood in line to purchase the most recent iPad Air, and you’re probably on the lookout for any news about next generation technology that the brand might have up their sleeve. But, if Apple launched it’s own high-priced fashion wear would you be tempted? 

Apple watch 

Nope, this isn’t the hashtag given to the latest OS from Apple HQ, it is in fact an actual watch. This wearable gadget is being deemed as more than just a smartphone, and is tipped as a high-end fashion statement. Karl Lagerfeld and Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour have even had a private unveiling to showcase the watch from a fashion perspective. 

It’s thought that the potential adoption of the Apple Watch, once it hits mainstream purchase, won’t purely be about men either. Research found that women would consider buying one for themselves too and are excited about the idea of a smartphone watch that looks and feels like a real watch. 

They are, of course, set to be extremely pricey and a gold version has been in talks also. Will it be another fail like Google Glass? It remains to be seen. But keep an eye out in spring 2015 for the release of the Apple Watch (#AppleWatch)

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the concept of fashionable technology.  Would you purchase it? Do you like the idea of wearable technology? At Fivebars Mobile we’re always interested in the latest technological advances, especially if it means you can make a call by using your wrist wear! 

Got Christmas shopping to do? Use your mobile phone

With Christmas just around the corner there is always so much to do.  Present shopping, ordering the turkey, food shopping, and wrapping presents, and all around a full-time job and family life. It’s no secret that Christmas shopping can be extremely stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. 

If you’re yet to start, or you still have a long way to go, then why not consider grabbing a cup of tea, relaxing on the sofa, and shopping via your mobile phone? 

Appy shopping 

Many retailers have made shopping even easier.  With handy retail apps, you can find exactly what you’re looking for, purchase it, and all from the comfort of your home or workplace. Head on over to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and you’ll find hundreds of apps from Amazon and ASOS to eBay and Etsy. 

Coded shopping 

If you’ve not seen a QR code before then you’ve been living in a cave. QR stands for quick response, which is exactly what you want when you’re shopping for Christmas presents. Often deals are presented in the form of a QR code, which resembles an odd-looking bar code. Simply download the QR code reader to your app and shop away. 

List crazy 

You can create lists on your phone, and you can even find apps that help you create a list and stick to your budget, so you don’t go overspending.  Organisation is key, so make the most of your mobile phone and get shopping. 

Paypal 

Make sure you set up a PayPal account.  This will take all the hassle out of creating a new account for each product you buy.  Most large retailers will give you the option to shop using credit or debit card or using PayPal. Set up a PayPal account now and you need never type your credit card details in again! 

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be stressful, you don’t even need to step outside your front door. You can simply press a few buttons on your phone and have it all delivered to your home. 

Happy shopping!