Intel Corp., the undisputed king of computer chip making, has tapped the broad shoulders of a few heavyweights in its bid to take its wireless broadband dreams to various cities around the globe. According to one report, Intel has started a Digital Communities initiative that involves rolling out wireless broadband technology in thirteen communities in a way to make high-speed Internet access more accessible to more people. The effort, said Intel, includes help from companies such as IBM Corp., SAP AG and Dell Inc. And the plan also involves equipping governments with tools to enable mobile workers such as meter readers to more efficiently do their jobs. Philadelphia, one of the participating communities, has already announced plans to deploy Wi-Fi technology across a 135-sq-mile area, an effort to increase accessibility to high-speed Internet access. San Francisco has also committed to deploying Wi-Fi technology. A Yankee Group analyst quoted in one report noted that municipalities are very much interested in rolling out wireless broadband technology in an effort to lessen the so-called digital divide.
The global smartphone market closed 2025 with a story less about recovery and more about transformation. Premium product, ecosystem lock-in, and manufacturing scale are now the forces shaping competition. For business and technology leaders, the latest IDC market study data confirms that smartphones remain a critical indicator of consumer demand, supply chain health, and AI commercialization at the edge. Smartphone Market Development Global smartphone shipments grew 2.3 percent year-over-year in Q4 2025, reaching 336.3 million units and bringing full-year volumes to 1.26 billion units — a modest 1.9 percent annual increase, according to IDC. This smartphone growth emerged despite a memory shortage crisis, tariff volatility, supply chain disruption, and macroeconomic headwinds. What stabilized demand? Two factors: sustained growth in premium devices and strong foldable momentum, combined with accelerated purchases as consumers bought ahead of anticipated price increases. Buyers weren...