We start this week's podcast by looking at the new Ofcom rules that should end unexpected mid-contract price rises for UK mobile phone customers.

There's also talk about misleading mobile network advertising, patent agreements, takeover bids, satellite broadband and 4G data usage... plus a curious patent application from Google.

Recent rumours about the possibility of AT&T acquiring Vodafone - following the latter company’s decision to dispose of its US business - have led to a format statement being issued.

The UK Takeover Panel, which regulates takeover bids and other merger transactions involving UK companies, asked AT&T to make the statement.

Mark Bridge writes:

A new report has highlighted the issue of poor mobile phone coverage in rural Sussex villages. BBC Sussex invited me onto their ‘Sussex Breakfast’ radio show to explain what could be done - and, as usual, I made enough notes for a lecture rather than a three-minute interview.

Here’s what I would have liked to have said if I’d been given a disproportionate amount of time to talk.

Ofcom’s proposal to increase annual licence fees for the 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum bands in the UK could adversely affect investment in the UK’s 4G services, according to the GSMA.

A consultation into the proposed increases ended on 16th January, with an Ofcom decision expected in the next few weeks.

This week's podcast starts with talk about money, as Google buys smart thermostat company Nest Labs while O2 UK closes its mobile Wallet product.

We're also looking at the decline of SMS text messaging in the UK, the end of the Cash4phones recycling business, an alleged security breach that wasn't what it seemed, mobile service on the Channel tunnel and the growth of 4G.