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:

We’re delighted to be a media partner to Apps World 2014. This year Apps World has outgrown its previous home and is moving to ExCeL London, alongside the River Thames. There’ll be over 350 exhibitors and even more workshops than before, with a number of free conference sessions alongside premium options.

Mark Bridge writes:

Developing a successful mobile product or service isn’t just a question of having a great idea. There are all sorts of challenges, from the technical aspects of application development to the wider issues of branding and funding.

That’s where The Mobile Academy steps in. It’s a London-based mobile masterclass designed to give you a helping hand with innovation, whether you’re an entrepreneur, a business owner, a developer or a designer.

Mark Bridge writes:

Just a few weeks ago WiFi was made available on a number of London Underground stations - yet mobile coverage still stops when you go down the escalator.

So why is it taking so long for us to get mobile phone service on the Tube?

For an insight into some of the challenges and the possible solutions I spoke to Ian Brown, CEO of Axell Wireless. The company is a leader when it comes to providing additional wireless coverage in confined spaces - from tunnels to sports stadiums - and is currently involved in the project to install mobile phone service on the Channel Tunnel.

Mark Bridge writes:

Mobile financial services were making the headlines yet again last week. Not once. Not twice. No, we noticed at least three separate (and all pretty big) stories to talk about.

First came Nokia’s planned withdrawal from its mobile money service, which will leave around a million people in India looking for a new mobile wallet.

John Barratt, product lead for 2ergo, predicts what lies ahead within the mobile marketing arena for retailers in 2012:

1. Mobile search marketing spend to increase significantly in 2012.

This week the team debate the number of "free" calling options on the market and determine if they represent real value for money. They review the new budget phone from Motorola the W220 and Nokia's 5300 Xpress Music phone along with more applications for your phone and the latest news and views.

This week we review the LG Shine a phone that doubles as a mirror, and a WiFi Skype phone from Belkin. We discuss the future for Mobile TV as well as all the latested news and software including Dr Simon's Brain Trainer a mobile rival to Brain Age on the Nintendo DS.

The team update you on the Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4U and Vodafone latest, you can still buy Vodafone in other high street Retailers. Latest news including O2's reduction in roaming charges from Spain. Plus a review of the Lobster 700 with mobile TV from Virgin and the Sony Ericsson W850i, along with First Direct's mobile banking service and Monopoly on your mobile phone.

This week the team bring you the facts associated with Vodafone's announcement to abandom Carphone Warehouse as well as informed debate on what this means to the industry and consumers. We also review the UK mobile networks HSDPA roll out status.

This week the team debate the state of the Mobile ringtone market, review Orange Unique a service that combines broadband with your mobile plus the Nokia 95 and all the latest news and mobile software.