App research specialist VisionMobile has published the latest version of its Developer Economics report, providing insights into mobile application development worldwide.

It estimates that 2.3 million people were mobile app developers in 2013, with 760,000 (32.9%) of them living in Asia and 680,000 (29.7%) in Europe.

HTC Corporation has published financial results for the final quarter of 2013.

Quarterly revenue was NT$42.9 billion (£862 million), with quarterly net profit of NT$310 million (just over £6 million). The company made an operating loss of NT$1.6 billion (£32 million). All those figures are down from the same quarter in 2012.

Mobile technology distributor Brightstar says it’s completed its acquisition of European rival 20:20 Mobile. 20:20 was originally part of the Caudwell Group, along with Phones 4U.

Brightstar announced its plans last December after months of industry speculation.

Mark Bridge writes:

Mobile phones have been hitting the mainstream news over the past few days. There was Channel 4’s report about data on second-hand phones not being properly deleted before the handsets were re-sold, there was the latest round of the Smart UK Project and there was Tim Muffett’s story about the mobile-enabled high street on BBC Breakfast this morning.

The Smart UK project is an annual government-supported competition looking for the UK's Most Innovative Mobile Company.

A few days ago, all 20 companies on the competition shortlist gave a short presentation to the Smart UK panel of judges. Afterwards, Mark Bridge spoke to some of the entrants to discover exactly what they had to offer - and how they planned to disrupt the mobile industry.