The GSMA and comScore have just released data showing how UK mobile consumers use mobile applications. The data has been collected in partnership with mobile networks and is the latest in the GSMA Mobile Media Metrics series of reports.

Overall, almost 8.8 million UK mobile phone owners - 40% of the UK's mobile internet users - accessed an app that connected to the internet during April 2011.

The GSMA, the London-based trade organisation representing the interests of mobile operators worldwide, has announced that its CEO is leaving later this year.

Rob Conway will step down from 1st September after leading the organisation for 12 years.

A group of mobile network operators have committed to launching commercial Near Field Communications services in select markets by next year.

Although the technology is best known for enabling mobile payments, NFC can also be used for other services such as mobile ticketing, mobile couponing, information exchange and access to buildings or vehicles.

The GSMA has announced the winners of its Mobile App Challenges competitions.

The Brand App Challenge, the Band App Audition and the mWomen Base of Pyramid App Challenge were aimed at the developer community, with winners being chosen for their creativity as well as their ability to address the criteria set by the Challenge partners.

The GSMA has reported some of the findings from its Spam Reporting Service, which ran from March through December last year with support from AT&T, Bell Mobility, KT, Korean Internet & Security Agency, SFR, Sprint and Vodafone.

The service, run by Cloudmark, collected and analysed text messaging threats and misuse that were reported by mobile subscribers.