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Mobile communications

The Final Goodbye: WhatsApp Says Farewell to Windows Phone

The Final Goodbye: WhatsApp Says Farewell to Windows Phone

Mr. Microsoft3 mins

Back in 2012, I shared a surprising twist: WhatsApp had mysteriously vanished from the Windows Phone Marketplace. It was one of those “wait… what?” moments that loyal fans of Microsoft’s mobile ecosystem will never forget.

Luckily, the messenger made a comeback not long after, allowing Windows Phone users to continue chatting and sharing their lives. But now, in July 2019, the writing is officially on the wall. And this time, it’s permanent.

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EU Clears Nokia’s Acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent

EU Clears Nokia’s Acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent: What It Means for Networks, 5G, and Competition

Mr. Microsoft4 mins

the European Commission approved Nokia’s acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent, judging the tie-up unlikely to harm competition against Ericsson and Huawei. Beyond headlines, the deal pairs radio, IP, and optical strengths—potentially streamlining LTE rollouts and paving early paths toward 5G. Enterprises should watch integration, roadmaps, and service SLAs as networks evolve to support cloud-first strategies.

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Microsoft Continuum for Phones

Microsoft Continuum for Phones: How Windows 10 Turns Your Smartphone into a PC

Mr. Microsoft7 mins

Microsoft’s Continuum for phones is one of the most exciting ideas to come out of Build 2015. Plug a Windows 10 smartphone into a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and it transforms into a desktop-like experience powered by universal apps. In this article, I explore what that means for users, developers, and the future of device strategy.

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Drillisch with strong ambition

Drillisch with strong ambition: LTE, real-world shops, and the fight for your SIM

Mr. Microsoft4 mins

While the big three (Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica after the E-Plus deal) grabbed headlines, Drillisch quietly kept stacking wins. The company posted a 10.3% jump in EBITDA to €20.6 million in Q4, powered by steady new-customer growth. That’s not just an accounting footnote—it’s oxygen for expansion: more LTE-first tariffs, more neighborhood stores, and more reasons for price-sensitive users to finally switch.

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Windows 10 for Phones Preview: Swipe Away Individual Notifications

Windows 10 for Phones Preview: Swipe Away Individual Notifications

Mr. Microsoft4 mins

The Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones keeps delivering new tricks, and one of the most practical yet underrated updates shows up in the Action Center. On Windows Phone 8.1, you could swipe away notifications—but only in bundles. If you had three alerts from one app, you had to dismiss them all at once. Now, in the Windows 10 preview, you gain finer control: you can swipe away individual notifications while leaving the rest untouched.

It sounds like a small tweak, but in daily life, it changes how you handle alerts.

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O2–E-Plus: Building Germany’s Densest Mobile Network

O2–E-Plus: Building Germany’s Densest Mobile Network

Mr. Microsoft4 mins

Telefónica Deutschland is moving fast. The company is merging the o2 and E-Plus networks into one of the densest mobile footprints Germany has ever seen. The goal is simple: stronger LTE coverage, fewer dead zones, and smoother connectivity for millions of customers.

For users in test regions, the future is already here. Phones are roaming seamlessly between o2 and E-Plus towers without extra charges or confusing settings. If this continues nationwide, the German mobile landscape could shift dramatically.

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Telefónica Germany CEO Thorsten Dirks: “We Are Up Front”

Telefónica Germany CEO Thorsten Dirks: “We Are Up Front”

Mr. Microsoft4 mins

In February 2015, Thorsten Dirks, CEO of Telefónica Deutschland, sat down with the Rheinische Post and outlined the company’s next steps after its landmark merger with E-Plus. His comments confirmed two major moves: the E-Plus brand would disappear, and Düsseldorf would remain a central hub for the combined business. For Germany’s telecom market, this was more than a rebrand—it was the start of a new chapter in competition with Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone.

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