Mark Bridge writes:

Microsoft started last week with news of an own-brand rival to the Apple iPad. The new Windows-based Microsoft Surface tablets will start to appear later this year, although full details of the specifications – including whether or not there’ll be cellular connectivity – remain unconfirmed.

The GSMA, the trade organisation that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, has announced a new scheme to help consumers understand and manage their data usage when abroad.

24 major network operators have agreed to implement a number of measures to help customers who are using their mobile phone abroad, reducing the risk of ‘bill shock’ when they return home.

This week's mobile industry news podcast starts with two very different stories from Nokia and Microsoft: one is announcing closures, the other is expanding its manufacturing.

We also find time to talk about roaming tariffs, mobile money, intelligent vending machines and a handful of recent mobile-related acquisitions.

T-Mobile has launched new tariff options that give customers a fixed data allowance when they’re using a smartphone or mobile broadband device abroad. When the allowance is used, the data connection will stop and customers will be unable to run up any additional costs.

The smartphone options are called ‘Internet Travel Boosters’ while the options for mobile broadband devices are called ‘Broadband Travel Boosters’.

Three UK is the latest company to introduce a new European roaming deal, hot on the heels of Vodafone’s announcement earlier this week.

It’s called the Euro Internet Pass and it allows unlimited mobile data use when in the EU for £5 per day.