James Rosewell writes:

Mobile network operators have responded en-masse to the success of Apple’s App Store. Apple should be very concerned. The Wholesale Application Community (WAC) has been formed as a corporate entity today with representation from AT&T, China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, GSMA, KT Corporation, NTT DOCOMO, SK Telecom, Smart Communications, SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp., Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telekom Austria Group, Telenor, Verizon and Vodafone. Not many major Mobile Network Operators (MNO) are missing from the list.

There'll be no more mobile phones made exclusively for the Vodafone 360 service.

The network revealed two exclusive phones when the service was launched in September last year – the Samsung-produced H1 and M1 – but no more will be made. Instead, the network will focus on the service itself.

The BBC Trust, which governs the BBC on behalf of the public, says the BBC's plans to launch its own smartphone applications don't require a Public Value Test. As a result, the apps – which had been delayed - are being launched today.

Internet services company AOL Inc has revealed a new mobile website at m.aol.com and is also launching a couple of Android applications. The news comes a month after ex-Palm man David Temkin joined as the company’s new Vice President of Mobile.

Last year, around 2.6 billion applications were downloaded from 'app stores' to consumer mobile phones. In 2015, that figure is expected to be 25 billion.

It's the latest calculation from Juniper Research, which also notes that 'freemium' – free to download but with chargeable options later - is becoming the most popular business model for apps.