The Washington Post reports that version 4.3 of the iOS Apple operating system has introduced new security for purchases made within an iPhone, iPad or iPod application. It follows complaints that children were inadvertently spending real money to buy in-app features and virtual currency.

Previous versions of iOS didn't require passwords to be entered for in-game purchases made within 15 minutes of an application purchase.

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.

Mark Bridge writes:

Sadly we’re ending the week with yet another natural disaster. Barely two weeks after New Zealand’s earthquake comes news of Japan’s biggest quake in living memory.

Still, I’m here to talk about mobile phones, so – after a quick mention of the great work being done by the Red Cross – I’ll get on with it.

Microsoft says it's delayed its forthcoming Windows Phone 7 update, which is due to add copy-and-paste functionality and other updated features to the company's mobile platform.

The first WP7 update, designed to improve the update process itself, caused problems with some devices when it was released last month.

Mark Bridge writes:

In recent weeks there’s been a lot of talk about the partnership between Nokia and Microsoft. But taking a look at today’s Form 20-F - the annual report that Nokia is filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission - provides a valuable reminder that nothing’s set in stone.