Microsoft has told IT administrators to move Entra ID users off SMS and voice-based first-factor sign-in before it shuts the option down in February 2027. Alternatives include passkeys, QR code authentication, and FIDO2 security keys, and the change applies even to organizations using their own telephony providers for multifactor authentication. The retirement covers only workforce tenant scenarios, not customer identity products like Entra External ID.
bleepingcomputer.com
· 2026-09-21
Google is quietly expanding its chat themes feature in Google Messages beyond RCS conversations to include standard SMS texts, according to a Reddit user's discovery confirmed on a Pixel 6a. Users can access the feature through the three-dot menu or contact info page, though Google hasn't published official documentation about the rollout.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-18
A retrospective traces how Nokia dominated the late-1990s phone market with rugged, one-handed candybar handsets like the 5110 and later the 3310, at a time when networks were too slow to make internet access worthwhile. These devices prioritized durability, battery life, and simple monochrome displays over connectivity, cementing Nokia's lead as the US shifted from analog to digital 2G networks.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-17
Some iPhone users are encountering a 'Not Delivered' error when sending messages through Apple's Messages app. The issue can stem from the app juggling three separate messaging protocols—iMessage, RCS, and SMS—which can cause confusion when a message fails to route correctly between iPhone and Android users.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-13
Apple's iOS 18 update introduced support for Rich Communication Services (RCS), replacing the older SMS-based system for cross-platform messaging. This change resolves the long-standing issue of photos and videos losing quality when sent from Android phones to iPhones.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-06
At the AI Everything MEA conference in Cairo, a fintech operator shared a real-world example of how ambiguous data definitions can distort AI and analytics outcomes. Using SMS notification charges and interest postings as an example, they showed how automatically generated, non-customer-initiated transactions can inflate 'Monthly Active User' counts, leading marketing, product, and finance teams to draw three conflicting conclusions from the same dataset.
engineering.moniepoint.com
· 2026-08-31
Google detailed further network security changes coming with Android 17, including support for the Encrypted Client Hello protocol that encrypts DNS server lookups, a feature letting carriers automatically block low-security 2G connections used in SMS Blaster spam attacks, and restrictions preventing apps from scanning home networks for vulnerable devices. The update also builds on previously announced Certificate Transparency enforcement to ensure phones connect using legitimate SSL certificates.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-08-27
GoKawiil