Brazil

Apple Pay launches in Brazil

Apple Pay is now live in Brazil, allowing customer in the 208 million people country to add cards issued from Itaú Unibanco, the 10th largest bank in the world and the biggest Latin American bank, to the Wallet app on their iPhone.

Watch Apple’s Brazilian Carnaval-themed video showcasing Portrait mode on iPhone 7 Plus

Following a pair of iPhone 7 Plus ads showcasing the depth of field shooting mode made possible by the dual-lens camera on iPhone 7 Plus, Apple shared another video on its Brazilian YouTube channel

First spotted by local blog Blogdoiphone, the video runs one minute and thirty seconds long and serves as the celebration of the Brazillian Carnaval festivities.

T-Mobile treats 2016 Summer Olympics attendees to unlimited 4G LTE data and calling

Deutsche Telekom-owned wireless carrier T-Mobile USA today announced that all Simple Choice postpaid customers traveling to Brazil for 2016 Summer Olympics will be treated to unlimited high-speed 4G LTE data within the country during August.

In unleashing Brazil this summer, T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere noted that not only will Rio de Janeiro visitors enjoy the Summer Olympics without worrying about roaming charges, but also free calls within Brazil and to U.S. during the month of August.

Apple restarting iPhone 4 production for India and other markets

Apple has reportedly resumed production of the discontinued iPhone 4, according to a new report. Citing sources familiar with the company’s plans, The Economic Times is reporting that Apple hopes to sell the handset in places like India, Indonesia, and Brazil.

The Mac-maker is hoping that the device will help it recoup market share in these countries and other developing markets, where few carriers offer subsidies on their smartphones and prices of consumer electronics tend to run much higher than the global average…

Apple gains approval to sell iPhone 5s/5c in Brazil

Apple has gained approval to sell its iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in Brazil. That country’s National Telecommunications Agency granted the tech giant the right to use the 4G-ready 2600 Mhz band, an upgrade from the previous 700 Mhz.

The new handsets are being produced at Foxconn’s Brazil factories. The government’s approval follows Apple winning the right to use the iPhone trademark. The only question remaining: when will the new smartphones appear on shelves in Brazil…

Apple wins right to use iPhone name in Brazil

A Brazil judge Wednesday ruled that Apple can use the iPhone name, clearing the way for the tech giant to compete in South America’s burgeoning smartphone market. The ruling reverses an earlier finding that gave a Brazilian company exclusive rights to the iPhone trademark. In his ruling, the judge declared Apple and IGB Electronica must share the iPhone name, writing the U.S. company had built a well-known line of iDevices…

Brazil sues Samsung over alleged factory labor problems

Samsung is reportedly facing a $108 million lawsuit from Brazil, which is claiming “serious” labor violations at the smartphone maker’s Manaus factory. At least 2,000 workers suffered injuries after being forced to work 15-hour days and not getting enough break time, a Brazilian labor organization claims Wednesday.

The website of the group Reporter Brasil cites Brazil prosecutors and the government’s labor ministry. In 2011, the South Korean smartphone maker paid $200,000 to settled similar charges over working conditions made by the government…

BRIC nations to overtake US as top smartphone markets by 2018

So-called BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are set to dominate smartphone market share by 2018, comprising four of the top seven markets, according to research released Tuesday. As a result, smartphone shipments to the US and Western Europe are forecast to drop to 33 percent of the smartphone market share, down from the current 39 percent.

At the same time, the top five countries in 2018 will account for just over half – 51 percent – of smartphone shipments globally. BRIC nations will account for a third of the shipments, according to ABI Research. The changing landscape means smartphone makers will need to keep pace…