Global Scans · Mobile Tech · Weekly Summary

• [New] WhatsApp will introduce optional usernames to protect users' phone numbers, allowing chats without revealing mobile numbers and reserving names of public figures to prevent impersonation. ST
• [New] With three-quarters of the world's population expected to be active users of digital wallets by 2030, the next phase will see banking infrastructure more deeply embedded in mobile ecosystems, with payment networks linking into mobile-first platforms and identity frameworks. Forbes
• [New] The global Mobile Payment Technologies Industry is projected to reach USD 5,785.10 Billion by 2036, driven by the rapid adoption of smartphones, real-time payment infrastructure, contactless payment technologies, and digital wallets worldwide. Transparency Market Research
• [New] Through securing the majority of the radio network-focused element of Virgin Media O2's latest Mobile Transformation Plan, the partnership extension will earn Ericsson several hundred million Euros across the five years. / UK Custom Market Insights
• [New] Starlink Mobile and T-Satellite users will be able to seamlessly stream, browse the internet, use high-speed apps, and make phone calls just like being connected to a terrestrial network, but without interruption or deterioration in service. Welcome To The 5Gstore Blog
• SpaceX plans a Starlink branded retail mobile service, which is the development pressuring carrier stocks. Welcome To The 5Gstore Blog
• By 2028, 70% of customer service journeys will start and be resolved in conversational third-party assistants built into mobile devices. nshift
• Mobile robotics is becoming core warehouse infrastructure, with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) expected to surpass 500,000 installed units globally by 2030, driven by flexible deployment, maturing vendors, and increasing adoption across small and mid-sized operations. Synkrato
• SpaceX told investors that it plans to launch a new Starlink mobile service for U.S. mobile consumers that would put it in direct competition with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Fierce Network
• Simultaneously, the expected debut of the LPDDR 6 standard for mobile devices in 2026 will create another new stream of demand for cutting-edge, low-power memory, adding another layer of complexity to the constrained supply environment. EnkiAI - Find the right insight
• Most prepaid carriers run on either AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon's networks, so the best data coverage will depend on which Big 3 network that prepaid carrier runs on. TextNow
• Although mobile internet subscriptions are projected to increase from nearly 58% (4.7 billion users) in 2024 to 64% by the end of 2030, approximately 350 million individuals globally, including about 10 million in rural Europe, still reside in areas without mobile network access. Nature
• A prepaid plan from carriers like Mint Mobile, US Mobile or TextNow could be a better fit, either for your main phone or one to be used by a child or when traveling. CNet
• Over the coming years, 1,132 satellites of roughly 360 kilograms will be launched to provide mobile direct-to-device services. China in Space
• The big three U.S. carriers confirmed plans for a direct-to-device joint venture to attack mobile dead zones, even as the space names that would supply that capacity took a beating: AST SpaceMobile slid hard after a Blue Origin rocket test explosion stoked launch-delay fears. Welcome To The 5Gstore Blog
• In the future, China Mobile Jiangsu and ZTE will continue to focus on digital and intelligent transformation, driven by value-oriented scenarios, to extend coverage to all scenarios and processes of core network operations and maintenance. theregister
• The next generation of Starlink Mobile satellites - V2 - will deliver full cellular coverage to places never thought possible via the highest performing satellite-to-mobile network ever built. Fierce Network
• Looking ahead, the Registered App Stores system could become the new standard for mobile app distribution, potentially influencing how other platforms approach similar regulatory pressures worldwide. Gadget Hacks
• Without authentication, enforceable interconnect controls, transparency in commercial network access, and regulatory accountability, mobile networks will continue to serve as a global platform for covert espionage. The Citizen Lab
• Amazon says it plans to use the Globalstar infrastructure to enhance collaboration with mobile network operators and other partners to deliver reliable high-speed connectivity to customers round the world, including via its own direct-to-device services. Fieldfisher

Last updated: 19 July 2026