US network operator Verizon and internet giant Google have published a proposal to deal with issues of "network neutrality" and an "open" internet.

They want to see internet service providers prohibited from any prioritisation or blocking of information or services on the internet (as long as that information/service is legally available).

Canadian-based research company IE Market Research Corp. has predicted the shape of the UK mobile industry in 2014. Its latest forecast anticipates a UK total of 84 million mobile subscriptions by the end of 2014. The merged Orange and T-Mobile customer base is expected to maintain its market share – calculated by IEMR to be 41% – while O2's subscriber market share will increase to 28% and Vodafone's share will drop fractionally to 23.3% in 2014.

Research company Berg Insight says the number of smart electricity meters installed around the world will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 31.1% to reach 302.5 million in 2015. Penetration rates for smart meters are expected to increase from today's 15–20% in Europe and North America to nearly 50%. It says many markets will approach 100% penetration by 2020.

This week's edition of The Fonecast is now online. Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge take their usual look at mobile industry headlines from the last seven days, covering high-level departures, m-payments and iPhone jailbreaking. There's also a conversation with Anthony Erwin, founder of mobile dating and social networking company StreetSpark.

Iain, James and Mark take their usual look at the week's mobile industry headlines, from high-level departures to mobile payments. There's also an interview with Anthony Erwin, founder of mobile dating and social networking company StreetSpark.