EE and BT Group have praised advancements in AI to help combat SMS scam attempts in time for Super Saturday [23 December], the busiest day for scams.

According to the mobile phone service provider, it has already blocked 45 million scam texts this year and predicts an extra 5 million in December.

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Commenting on the figures EE Director Regulatory Affairs for the Consumer division at BT Group, Jonny Bunt said, despite new security technology updates installed this year, “the battle is never won, and some will always make it through.”

Some of these new updates included International SMS blocking, blocking of trusted routes, and Enhanced Call Protection, alongside, AI reinforcement.

Instead, he said: “Our investments in AI are helping hugely, but we would be nothing without the vigilance of our customers.”

“With deliveries piling up on the doorstep, scammers will be looking for ways to take advantage of the festive frenzy,” he added.

“As one of the UK’s first lines of defence against SMS scam texts, we have a clear sight of the threat level here at BT and EE and are already seeing a concerning spike in delivery scams in particular.”

Instead, he encouraged everyone to “take a couple of minutes to remind themselves of the signs, and to report suspicious texts for free to 7726.”

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Telecoms giant EE has launched its new service, EE TV, aimed to offer a flexible TV experience for UK homes.

A first-of-a-kind offering, which includes flexible content packages. replaces BT TV after its £12.5 billion acquisition by the telecoms company.

EE has also partnered with Apple to produce an EE TV app with live streaming and on-demand content, alongside a custom EE-branded remote, and automatic setup for the Apple TV box.

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The new offering allows customers access to over 70 Freeview channels, a Netflix subscription, as well as premium channels from Sky, Eurosport, TNT Sports and Discovery.

However, the service also offers Prime Video and Now, for an additional fee, with Disney Plus set to be available soon.

“The launch of EE TV is one of the first significant strides we’re taking since launching New EE,” CEO Marc Allera said. “The service is built for busy households, and we believe it will elevate the TV experience for consumers across the UK.”

The news comes as Allera recently revealed revealed customers are “not sentimental” about losing the BT brand.

He continued: “We’re effectively rebranding a national institution.

“Most are aware of the changes and they understand it” claiming the telecoms business has not “seen much resistance”.

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Britain’s biggest mobile phone network providers are facing a class action claim that their loyalty customers are being overcharged.

According to consumer rights champion and former Citizen’s Advice executive, Justin Gutmann, Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three are “abusing their dominant positions” in the UK mobile industry by charging a ‘loyalty penalty,’ in which long-standing customers were overcharged for handsets beyond the end of their contractual term.

Gutmann alleged the mobile operators have overcharged on up to 28.2 million contracts and, as a result, is seeking damages of at least £3.285 billion.

If successful, someone who held a contract with just one of the mobile operators could receive as much as £1,823.

Gutmann said: “I’m launching this class action because I believe these four mobile phone companies have systematically exploited millions of loyal customers across the UK through loyalty penalties – taking over £3 billion out of the pockets of hard-working people and their families.

“These companies kept taking advantage of customers despite the financial crisis of 2008, Covid and now the cost of living crisis. It’s time they were held to account.”

He added: “If our claim is successful, it will finally stop these firms from taking advantage of their loyal customers and stop the immoral practice of loyalty penalties.”

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EE boss Marc Allera has revealed customers are “not sentimental” about losing the BT brand following its £12.5 billion acquisition.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Allegra said: “We’re effectively rebranding a national institution.

“Most are aware of the changes and they understand it” claiming the telecoms business has not “seen much resistance”.

As a result of the acquisition, EE will now be replacing the BT brand for landline and internet services after 30 years, with the BT logo no longer appearing on bills, phones, wifi home hubs and TV boxes.

Instead, the EE imprint will now be appearing on these devices.

However, these are not the only changes in Allera’s strategy, which he admits “took a bit longer” than he liked due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

His strategy includes recruiting new customers by launching EE ID, an online account anyone can set up despite not having a phone or internet contract with the company, which will allow customers to streamline multiple subscriptions to companies such as Netflix via a single paid account.

“I want EE to be one of the most important brands and when people see our app on their smartphone, they will want to come back every day and every week to buy products and services from us,” Allera added.

“Customers tell us they have so many apps and subscriptions they don’t know where to put them. They have devices in their homes that they can’t find or don’t know if they’re connected. We can play a really good role in helping them navigate all that.”

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The interactive app will enable users to see ‘holographic’ video of Attenborough alongside plants and animals in their surroundings. It will be created by a consortium, led by Factory 42, made up of BBC Studios, EE, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Talesmith, and Dimension Studios.

“Innovation has always been at the heart BBC Studios Natural History Unit,” said Mike Gunton, Creative Director at BBC Studios. “We believe that the App inspired by The Green Planet has the potential to reach millions to showcase the beauty and fragility of our natural world and inspire positive change around biodiversity and habitat protection for the benefit of all species.”

Factory 42 will co-produce the project with BBC Studios in association with Talesmith, while EE will offer up its 5G network and edge computing, and Dimension will provide volumetric capture video technology for the app’s holographic images.

The consortium is one of nine projects to win £2.2m in funding as part of a government initiative to showcase the potential of 5G.

“This cutting-edge app, fronted by broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough, is set to be an inspiring example of how new technology can reconnect us with the natural world whilst demonstrating the power of 5G to a huge new audience,” said Matt Warman, Minister for Digital Infrastructure.

Other projects to receive funding include O2’s Project Vista, which will explore the use of multi-angle replays via smartphones during sporting events; the Eden Universe, where Cornwall’s Eden Project will look to utilise 5G to deliver a virtual visitor experience; and the use of 5G at Stadium MK, home of MK Dons FC, to power autonomous taxis, drones, and robots.

“5G is about so much more than faster mobile internet speeds so we’re investing millions to help some of Britain’s brightest innovators explore the huge potential of the technology to improve and enrich our lives,” added Warman.

“The projects we’ve selected will demonstrate how the blistering speeds of 5G can put some rocket fuel in our economy and help businesses bounce back from the pandemic.”

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The Mini AR Rita, developed alongside Aircards, brings Rita Ora into the homes of UK smartphone users via web-based AR. The mini avatar of the singer dons the same gold, two-piece bodycon outfit seen in the EE ad and provides users with the singer’s real-life performance, as captured by EE over 5G.

“As an artist, you’re forever looking at new ways to give back to your fans. Things that get them genuinely excited,” said Rita Ora. “Filming the live AR gig over EE 5G was unlike anything I’d done before, and it allowed me to push myself and enter a whole new world of performance. I wanted my fans to be able to experience that for real too, so I hope they love mini AR Rita as much as I do.”

In EE’s ad with the singer – which is running across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TV, and video on demand – Rita Ora’s AR avatar performs her hit single ‘Let You Love Me’ while dancing through London’s iconic skyline.

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To promote the iPhone 12 Pro and EE’s Full Works plan, the ad features an AR performance from Rita Ora, where an avatar of the singer is seen dancing through London’s iconic skyline while performing her hit single ‘Let You Love Me’.

“It’s so exciting to see what is possible with EE’s next-generation technology. It was a lot of fun being part of something which really pushed the boundaries of live performance,” said Rita Ora. “Registering the movements of my hands, body and face, was cool, but seeing myself as an AR avatar, dancing around live, totally blew my mind. My first-ever 5G-powered AR performance was so incredible, and it looks phenomenal.”

The campaign will run across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TV, and video on demand. The 60-second TV spot will have highlight spots during Coronation Street, The Voice, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and more.

“Our latest brand campaign shows the possibilities of the next generation of mobile connectivity available through our award winning 5G network,” said Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at BT and EE. “The end-to-end AR experience, filmed live and for real, harnessed the power of the latest iPhone 12 Pro on EE 5G to create a truly captivating performance of the one-and-only Rita Ora.”

Last month, EE revealed that customers who take out its Full Works Plan for iPhone by 15 January 2021 will get 24 months access to the BT Sport app and access to EE’s new ‘Match Day Experience’, which aims to revolutionise the way we watch sports at home with video, social, and AR features.

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On the surface, To The Moon might look like any other mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), offering customers a range of data bundles, unlimited UK calls and SMS, and inclusive EU roaming. However, this service also features an integrated crypto wallet.

The crypto wallet enables customers to manage their funds and mobile ‘needs’ from within one app, which also provides live support with human customer service reps. The crypto wallet won’t be fully functional until the end of November but, from today, customers are able to familiarise themselves with the app’s interface and different cryptocurrencies and their rates.

“This year has shown how uncertain the future can feel. We want to remove some of that uncertainty by giving our customers more flexibility and power to choose what they pay for in a mobile service, without the pressure of long-term tie-in commitments,” said Andy Hallam, UK CEO at To The Moon.

 “On top of this is a belief that crypto currencies are the future. To support this, we’re enabling our UK mobile customers to manage their mobile service a crypto wallet all within one ecosystem for the very first time. This ‘fintel’ combination, alongside our in-app customer support, is just the start of our journey as a brand that is serious about the future.”

To The Moon, which is powered by EE’s mobile network, has data bundles starting at £6 per month for 2GB of data and up to £25 per month for 50GB. Users are able to select the amount of data they want via a bundle slider scale. To begin with, customers will be able to take advantage of a free, seven-day 500MB trial.

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The Match Day Experience offering features a ‘Watch Together’ service, which enables fans to watch, see, and chat with three other friends in split-screen alongside a BT Sport broadcast; a 360 service, providing users with the chance to see the action from angles they don’t usually get to see in a broadcast; ‘Match Day Live’, which gives customers access to pre-game information and in-game stats in AR; ‘Stadium Experience’, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at sporting stadiums through AR; and a ‘Manager Mode’, which gives fans real-time stats augmented onto the pitch.

“We continually look for ways to offer customers new and innovative services, allowing them to make the most from their smartphone. Our new Match Day Experience features will provide an amazing array of ways to enhance their sports viewing – over the UK’s number one network for 5G,” said Marc Allera, Chief Executive of BT’s consumer division.

“They can now watch the action live with their mates thanks to integrated video chat. Get closer to the game with the best ever 360° views, and view real-time stats and graphics projected on the pitch and around each player with Manager Mode. What’s more – only with us can they also get up-close and personal, with advanced Match Day Live AR features – ensuring that when they’re out and about, they can always get the best seats in the house.”

EE customers who take out the Full Works Plan for iPhone between 16 October 2020 and 15 January 2021 will get 24 months access to the BT Sport app and access to the Match Day Experience.

Fans will be able to take advantage of the new experience on their iPhone 12s from 24 October when West Ham United face off with Manchester City in the Premier League and Exeter Chiefs battle with Wasps in the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final.

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The ‘Set Up Safe’ service, available to all EE pay monthly customers, provides parents with guidance on how they can manage their child’s online activity, including setting an adult content lock, placing spending caps, preventing charges to bill, and blocking calls and texts to premium numbers.

By texting ‘Set Up Safe’ to 150, parents can select their safety preferences and have them automatically applied to the device by EE.

“While technology is now playing a bigger role in family life than ever before, we understand that online safety is just one of many things parents will be thinking about as their children start to head out with lockdown restrictions easing,” said Mat Sears, Consumer Corporate Affairs Director at EE. “By providing this new guidance and support to parents, we’re hoping to ease some of these anxieties about online safety and lighten the load, by giving parents the confidence and understanding needed to help children enjoy a safe online experience.”

The launch of the service comes in response to an EE survey which found that 25 per cent of children now use their phones at least once every half an hour – and 35 per cent of parents with children aged between 10 and 17 feel this usage is only going to increase as lockdown eases. Meanwhile, 31 per cent of parents did not put any safety settings in place before giving their child a smartphone.

“While the connected world provides huge benefits to young people, there are undoubtedly risks, and therefore technical tools such as EEs Set Up Safe go a long way to stop children seeing inappropriate content or having unwanted contact,” said Carolyn Bunting, CEO of Internet Matters.

“We would always encourage parents to apply age-appropriate safety settings to their childs devices as they help to create a digital environment where children can safely learn, create and socialise. But its essential parents dont rely solely on technical tools as there is no substitute to having an open dialogue with your child from a very young age and staying in tune with their digital world.”

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