1. AT&T Mobility is offering two iPhones for the price of one this holiday season. Customers who buy a new iPhone 6s through AT&T Mobility’s Next 24 plan can receive a second phone for no charge. Each month, AT&T Mobility will credit the customer’s bill for the payment due on the second phone. AT&T Mobility is not publicizing the deal as heavily as it is promoting its “buy one, get one free” deal for Samsung smartphones. This is probably due to pressure from Apple to keep the iPhone promotion somewhat quiet.
2. The Galaxy S7 looks like it will be the first major product launch for D.J. Koh, the new leader of Samsung’s mobile device unit. Details about Samsung’s next flagship phone are starting to leak. Reports say the S7 will include a high-speed charging port, a pressure-sensitive display and that a retina scanner is also a possibility.
3. The European Union wants mobile subscribers to be able to stream video across the continent. The European Commission is proposing an end to “geo-blocking,” which prevents people from using their subscriptions to services like Netflix when they leave the country. The commission is targeting 2017 for enactment of this part of its digital single market initiative.
4. Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged ringleader of the Bataclan terrorist attack in Paris, seems to have used his mobile phone to direct the attackers from a few blocks away. CNN reports Abaaoud’s phone records show he was in communication with stadium bomber Bilal Hadfi until Hadfi committed suicide. An area witness saw Abaaoud a few blocks from the Bataclan yelling into his cell phone.
5. Mobile subscribers in India may get free data when they buy Microsoft’s Lumia 4G smartphones. Microsoft has reportedly partnered with Bharti Airtel to offer free data bundles to customers who buy its Lumia phones. Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio are both racing to deploy 4G in India.
