The Payments Council, which is responsible for ensuring that payment services work in the UK, says it’s building a central database that will allow customers to link their mobile phone number to any UK bank account they use.

This database, which is being constructed by payments provider VocaLink, is due to be made available to UK banks and building societies before the end of this year. Banks could then use it to build their own mobile app or mobile web-based service for customers.

ZTE Corporation says it’ll launch the Mimosa X Android smartphone at Mobile World Congress next week.

It’ll be the first device powered by both the NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor and the NVIDIA Icera HSPA+ modem.

LG Electronics says it’ll be launching its new design identity, L-Style, at Mobile World Congress next week.

It’ll be seen on three new smartphones: the Optimus L3, which will be available from next month, the Optimus L5 and the Optimus L7.

This week’s podcast from The Fonecast starts with a look at Barclays Pingit, the new UK mobile payment service that’ll let almost anyone send and receive money from a smartphone. We then move on to Ofcom’s plans to cut mobile termination rates before discussing camera technology, new handsets, patents, NFC tickets and plenty of other topics.

As always, you can listen to the programme on our website audio player, via iTunes, by using our RSS feed or by downloading the MP3. Alternatively, take advantage of the Android, iOS or webOS Stitcher Radio app and stream the podcast to your mobile phone.

Barclays introduces person-to-person mobile money transfers to the UK, Ofcom gets the go-ahead to cut wholesale interconnection charges, a handful of new phones are announced ahead of Mobile World Congress... plus the rest of the week's big news.