Mark Bridge writes:

A report in The Independent says Apple won't be putting a Near Field Communication chip in the next version of the iPhone. Although Apple is thought to be working on its own NFC service connected to iTunes, it's said to be "concerned by the lack of a clear standard across the industry".

On the surface, that phrase doesn’t make sense.

In this week's edition of The Fonecast we’re paying another visit to GSMA Mobile World Congress. There's an interview with Mary Carol Harris, vice president for mobile development at Visa Europe, and a wide-ranging discussion about mobile payment technologies.

Plus, as usual, the team takes its regular look at all the week’s mobile industry headlines - from Vodafone's network problems to the 4G renaming of Snoop Dogg (or 'Dogggg', as he now prefers).

Visa Europe and Monitise plc have signed an agreement to develop and supply mobile payments services for banks and other financial institutions across Europe.

Monitise will work as an ‘advanced development engine’ for Visa Europe, enabling it to provide member banks with a market-ready mobile payments service in Europe.

Visa Europe and Wireless Dynamics have developed a mobile payment solution that’ll enable customers to use an iPhone for contactless payments.

It’s based on the Wireless Dynamics iCarte accessory, which will be supplied by participating banks and mobile operators.

With the end of the year just a couple of weeks away, The Fonecast has invited London-based dealer Faisal Sheikh and mobile recruitment expert Spencer Davies to discuss the past 12 months... and the potential for 2011. Plus, as usual, the team takes its regular look at news headlines from the last seven days – including mobile payments, mobile shopping and mobile fraud.