There’ll be 1.4 billion mobile devices with HTML5-compatible web browsers at the end of this year, according to a new forecast from ABI Research.

That would represent an annual increase of 87%.

Hazel Allsopp of Purple WiFi writes:

Retail and hospitality businesses have long been aware of the need to offer free WiFi access to their customers. The use of smart phones is becoming increasingly widespread, and people expect to get online wherever they are, whatever they’re doing.

The latest large brand to recognise this is Intercontinental Hotels Group, who announced last month that they would be offering free access to 71 million loyalty scheme members’ worldwide. The decision was made in response to a survey in which 43% of guests said they wouldn’t stay in a hotel if it didn’t offer free WiFi.

EE says it’s going to double the speed and the capacity of its 4G network in the UK. As a result, maximum data speeds are expected to exceed 80Mbps with an average of more than 20Mbps.

In addition, EE is dedicating more of its 1800MHz spectrum to 4G service.

Research company Canalys has used its App Interrogator tool to investigate downloads and purchases from the leading app stores in more than 50 countries.

It’s found that downloads from the Apple App Store, Google Play, the Windows Phone Store and BlackBerry World in the first quarter of 2013 had increased by 11% from the previous quarter, reaching 13.4 billion downloads.

O2 UK is the latest mobile network to offer its customers free WiFi on the London Underground, thanks to a wholesale deal with Virgin Media. It’ll be available from June.

Customers with Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and EE - plus Virgin Media - are already able to use the service.