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:

Earlier this month, London-based smartphone company Kazam announced seven new Android handsets. That's pretty impressive... and is an even more noteworthy feat when you consider the company didn't even exist at the beginning of the year.

Mark Bridge writes:

Imagine books that could automatically link with your tablet as you touched the pages. Or posters that reacted to your fingertips and displayed the results on your smartphone. It seems this kind of Bluetooth-enabled interactivity is just around the corner, thanks to tiny low-power processors and a patented printing process that doesn’t require specialised equipment.

Anton Faulconbridge writes:

It’s the latest tech update that everyone is talking about; for good or for bad, iOS7 is here and it’s something that all mobile app developers need to take into consideration. So, how have these changes to Apple’s system had an impact on third party apps?

Anton Faulconbridge of RantMedia writes:

2013 promises to be an exciting year for the app industry. With the number of smartphone users almost on par with laptop, desktop and tablet users, this is a crucial time for app developers to bring fresh and innovative material to the table.

Whilst many industries are drying out, the smartphone technology sector continues to flourish and a wave of app developers who sit up and take notice of new trends are likely to do well compared with slapdash competitors. Let’s take a look at some savvy tips and tricks to stay ahead of the game in 2013.

Faiza Elmasry of voanews.com writes:

Imagine shopping for clothes online and being able to run your hand across the screen on your computer or smartphone to feel the fabrics. That kind of simulation technology could be available within the next five years.

The Fonecast team talks to former Unique Distribution CEO Andy Tow about his new role at Data Select. The Fly SLT100 is put through its paces, plus there's all the latest mobile-related news.

The Fonecast team discusses the Mobile News Awards, reviews the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and brings you the latest news and rumours from around the industry.

Iain, Mark and James offer their regular weekly look at the latest mobile news headlines and rumours. Freelance journalist Steve Gold explains the benefits of mobile email for dealers, and the sporty Samsung SGH-F110 miCoach handset comes under the team's spotlight.

Iain Graham, Mark Bridge and James Rosewell take their usual look at the week's mobile news headlines and gossip in 'The Fonecast'. Jez Harris explains the latest dealer controversy about Orange commission clawback and there's a review of the new Sony Ericsson C902 Cyber-shot camera phone.

This week's edition of The Fonecast includes the usual mix of mobile industry headlines and gossip. There's an interview about cashback with Paul Withers from Fone! magazine and there's also a review of the new Onyx Liscio handset.