A new study from ABI Research predicts that within five years streaming cloud-based services will be a more important method of accessing music than owning albums, songs or tracks. It says this shift away from music ownership will be driven by the growing use of mobile phones as music players.

Around 5.9 million people are expected to be subscribers of mobile music streaming services at the end of this year...

Mark Bridge writes:

The last seven days have seen the UK mobile industry coming to terms with Ofcom's plans to cut mobile termination rates from next month. Some think the reductions should have been larger and faster-acting, others say they'll mean higher call charges for prepay customers. The reality will become more obvious from 1st April.

Three UK is changing the way it blocks age-sensitive content accessed via its mobile network.

Previously it's followed a similar policy to the UK’s other major networks, filtering websites to protect users who may be under 18. Commercial web content that would be classified as '18+' in other formats (e.g. magazines, films and games) has been restricted until the customer provides proof they're at least 18 years old.

O2 says it's the first UK network to take advantage of Ofcom's new rules about redeploying old GSM frequencies. It's now reusing its 900MHz spectrum in London for 3G services, which is apparently delivering a 50% increase in capacity to the existing 2100MHz 3G network.

O2 has also deployed so-called 3G900 services in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.

A majority share in Phones 4U has been sold to private equity firm BC Partners by owners Providence Equity Partners. Control of the UK retail chain had been bought by Providence from founder John Caudwell in 2006.

Although the deal needs regulatory approval, it’s expected to be finalised next month.