The amount of voice calls from mobile phones is falling for the first time ever, according to new research published by UK telecoms regulator Ofcom.

It says the volume of voice calls from mobiles fell by 1% in 2011, while the volume of calls from fixed-line phones dropped by 10%. The average Briton now sends 50 text messages per week; a figure that’s more than doubled in the past four years.

UK workers carry out an average of three weeks’ work at home every year by checking their work email and taking calls - and many of them are using their own mobile device to do this.

A new survey sponsored by ‘bring your own device’ specialists Good Technology showed that 93% of UK working adults continued to work when they’d left the office. On average, each person carried on working for a total of three hours and 31 minutes each week; the equivalent of 23 extra working days every year.

Vodafone UK has launched a new tariff option called EuroTraveller that allows customers to use their UK tariff allowances whilst in Europe, cutting the price of ‘roaming’ abroad.

Opting in to a £3 daily charge lets consumers on a ‘pay monthly’ price plan use their UK voice, text and mobile internet allowance when abroad. Calls and texts received whilst in Vodafone’s Europe Zone are free; additional ‘out of bundle’ charges are the same as in the UK.

A new iOS and Android app called Sidecar promises to enhance mobile and WiFi voice calling with additional ‘smart calling’ features. Users can offer video, photo sharing and location information during a voice call.

An additional benefit is the ability to call any mobile telephone number in the US and Canada for free when using WiFi, even if the recipient isn’t using Sidecar.

The European Union’s new charges for mobile ‘roaming’ when abroad have been agreed by the European parliament and will become law from 1st July 2012. Overall, consumers are expected to save 75% across roaming calls, text messages and data compared with 2007 prices.

As well as reduced costs for voice calls and SMS messages, new price caps for mobile data will be introduced.