Deutsche Telekom‘s radical reimagining of the smartphone interface signals a pivotal shift in mobile computing, replacing traditional app-based interactions with an AI-first approach. This development, announced at Mobile World Congress 2025, represents one of the first major attempts by a telecommunications company to fundamentally restructure how users interact with their phones, potentially setting a new direction for the mobile industry.
The big picture: Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile‘s parent company, plans to launch a revolutionary AI phone that eliminates traditional apps in favor of an AI virtual assistant powered by Perplexity AI.
Key features: The “Magenta AI” assistant will be accessible directly from the lock screen or via double-tapping the power button.
Behind the development: The AI phone concept, first unveiled at MWC 2024, has undergone a year of refinement before this announcement.
Accessibility plans: Deutsche Telekom is making the AI assistant widely available beyond just new hardware purchases.
What’s next: While Deutsche Telekom confirms a 2025 launch, specific timing details and U.S. availability through T-Mobile remain uncertain.