UK telecoms regulator Ofcom wants to ban inflation-related rises in phone and broadband contracts. Instead, it says any potential mid-contract price rises should be set out in pounds and pence.

A new forecast from research specialists Canalys shows the smartphone market is set to recover next year. Worldwide shipments declined by 12% last year but that decline is expected to slow to 5% this year.

Vodafone Group plc and CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited have agreed to combine their UK telecommunication businesses, respectively Vodafone UK and Three UK. The merger will create a large new network operator to compete with Virgin Media O2 and EE.

UK mobile payment service Paym will close on 7th March 2023. The service, which allowed users to make and receive payments using their mobile phone numbers, was launched in 2014.

Consumer protection organisation Which? has been given permission by the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal to represent Apple and Samsung smartphone buyers in a legal case against chip manufacturer Qualcomm.

Mark Bridge writes:

Advertising is already personal. Browse online for certain products and services – perhaps a new camera, a car hire deal or a pair of jeans – and you’ll see the same items advertised when you visit other web sites.

Marketing technology company Pontis, based in the high-tech industrial zone of Ra'anana in central Israel, has a much more focussed perspective. It talks about a segment-of-one marketing approach… and it’s just started working with O2 in the UK.

Mark Bridge writes:

Almost everyone in the mobile telecoms industry seems to be looking for a perfect payment system that'll transform their mobile phone into some kind of electronic wallet. Yet despite many trial schemes – and a few commercial launches – cards and cash are still favoured by consumers and retailers in much of the world.

The week's mobile industry headlines including an interview with 20:20 Mobile's Stuart Henry, a conversation with John "Doctor Shop" Ryan, a look at the Nokia 7900 Prism and a rant from Mobile News editorial director Ian White.

We interview John Barton from LG Mobile, review the new Sagem my850v, discuss the week's mobile industry news, listen to Ian White's outspoken opinion and look at the 'petbuddi' GSM-based dog location service.

The team talk to Martin Flick of Azzurri Communications about T-Mobile, discuss other stories making the headlines, review the Samsung G600 and Pocket Informant 2007, plus bring you an interview with a real Mystery Shopper.

This week the team reviews the Sagem my300c, interviews Phil Jones from Tex2me.com, looks at Phone Sherpa and discusses all the latest mobile phone industry news.

This week the team debates "is the new Carphone Warehouse upgrade policy good news for the industry?" and reviews the Alcatel OT C-825 & Map24 Mobile software, as well as bringing you commentary on all the latest news.