International figures from ABI Research show that 4G data currently costs around 20% more than the equivalent 3G tariff.

However, the research company says there are signs that competition is already causing 4G tariffs to fall.

Sony Corporation has suspended sales of its Xperia tablet computer because some of the devices aren’t as waterproof as initially thought. The Android-powered Xperia Tablet S was described as being ‘splash-proof’ when it was announced in August.

A manufacturing flaw is believed to have caused gaps between the screen and the casing, which has affected the waterproofing.

In April we reported that US-based bookseller Barnes & Noble was forming a partnership with Microsoft to combine Barnes & Noble’s digital eBook and College education businesses. The as-then unnamed company would be a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble but with Microsoft owning a 17.6% share.

Barnes & Noble and Microsoft have now completed the partnership deal, naming the new company NOOK Media LLC.

Microsoft has put an official date for the Windows Phone 8 mobile OS in the diary.

It’ll be talking about - and presumably demonstrating - Windows Phone 8 to the press in San Francisco on 29th October, just a few days after the launch of its tablet and desktop Windows 8 operating system.

Motorola Mobility has updated its August announcement that around 20% of staff were to lose their jobs.

An official filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission notes that “Motorola has continued to refine its planned restructuring actions and now expects to broaden those actions to include additional geographic regions outside of the U.S.”