Google and BlackBerry have both confirmed that aspects of their mobile software are affected by the Heartbleed bug.

Heartbleed, which became public last week, exploits a flaw in the OpenSSL software. OpenSSL is one of the options for protecting online information and preventing criminals from ‘listening in’ to internet traffic.

The number of banking transactions made on mobile phones by British customers has doubled in a single year, according to new figures from a UK banking trade organisation.

Customers of the five biggest retail banks used mobile phones for 18.6 million transactions a week in 2013, according to the BBA. That compares with 9.1 million in 2012.

Microsoft has announced a handful of new and updated mobile applications, including the long-awaited launch of ‘Microsoft Office for iPad’.

This comprises three separate iOS apps - Word, Excel and PowerPoint for iPad - now available in the Apple App Store, along with an update to the OneNote app. The basic apps are free for viewing and presenting files.

A new iOS app that allows instant messaging without an internet connection is rapidly moving towards the top of the ‘free app’ charts.

FireChat, developed by San Francisco-based startup Open Garden, can be used on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch without WiFi or cellular connectivity.

UK mobile network operator EE has launched a new retail service called ‘Connected Retail’ to help shops monitor their customers’ behaviour.

Although full details haven’t been announced, the new service is described as using mobile connectivity inside shops “to improve the customer experience and open new revenue streams”.