Research In Motion has updated its BlackBerry Messenger instant messaging service to allow free voice calls to other BBM users via WiFi.

BBM version 7 enables customers to switch between texting and talking with their contacts.

The UK's 4G spectrum auctions are given a start date, while RIM reveals the launch day for its BlackBerry 10 platform.

This week's podcast also covers the patent deal between Apple and HTC, the departure of Windows Live Messenger, the success of the Samsung Galaxy SIII and some mobile payment innovation.

New analysis of the UK’s communication habits has found that people can be categorised into five different groups of communicators, ranging from the ‘always on’ to the ‘detached’.

Earlier this year, Ofcom’s Communication Market Report revealed that the UK is now texting more that talking. Further analysis of the research, published today, looks at the methods and frequency of communication, as well people’s attitudes towards it.

Tradedoubler says it’s become the first affiliate network to introduce a ‘performance marketing’ business model to the app market. Advertisers are able to track the number of app downloads generated by a publisher as well as tracking in-app sales and leads generated by mobile apps.

Affiliates can then be rewarded by being paid per acquisition, per lead or per installation.

Nokia has rebranded its mapping and location business as HERE, describing it as “the first location cloud to deliver the world’s best maps and location experiences across multiple screens and operating systems”.

One of the first HERE products for non-Nokia devices will be a free HTML5-based maps application for iOS, which is expected to be available in the next few weeks.